chapter 2 - heirlooms

[Mant72]

Tip:

Tip stares in absolute horror at the vile dead that shamble forward. He finally snaps out of his fixated terror, follows Salty's lead by also switching to his bow, and lets a deadly barb fly.

To Hit with Short Bow: [1d20] = 7; Damage: [1d6] = 4

[coil23]

Criscor (Cr) goes sprawling onto the floor after Travix’s (Tr) shove toward the zombie to their right (Z3). Though struggling to right himself and stand again, hearing the shuffling movement of that zombie close by him seems to speed his attempts.

Hennoth’s (H) eye goes wide at the sight of the rotting creatures. He spares a glance at Salt Peter who is separated from the group then strides forward to stand in front of Travix. The boy grabs his metal sun holy symbol from around his neck and his voice booms forth with Pelor’s invocation to repel undead creatures.

[2d6] = 4
The zombies show no reaction to Hennoth's booming command.

Salt Peter (SP), backing away rapidly with the discovery of the monsters before him, pulls his bow and fires at one of the zombies (Z1). His arrow goes wide as the halfling is backpedaling toward his party. The two zombies (Z1 and Z2) slowly approach.

Criscor's surprise-room layout.jpg (47.86 KiB) Viewed 641 times

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter continues to backpedal, while firing a second arrow.

Bow: [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7; Damage [1d6] = 3

[Mant72]

Did Tip hit with his shot? Probably not.

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix makes sure he stays near the exit and tries his best to keep Criscor in front of the zombie. He reaches into his pack and grabs a small bag of round glass balls.

Everyone head for the doorway. I will try to incompasitate these two following Salty. The other one can make a meal out of this lying bastard as far as I am concerned.

Once Salty is past him and out of the way of the 2 oncoming zombies, he releases the contents of the bag, scattering out the marbles under the feet of the zombies.

[coil23]

Tip's arrow goes wide, hitting the side wall. Salt Peter's second arrow misses as well, clattering into the refuse on the floor. Salt Peter reaches the group near the doorway and the two zombies continue their halting progress in your direction.

The zombie nearest the group reaches Criscor as he still struggles to get to his feet. You hear a muffled scream as the zombie latches a clawed hand onto the man's arm. As the man desperately tries to get away the zombie pulls itself in closer and its mouth widens to bite.

Travix scatters a bag of glass marbles across the floor in the path of the two still advancing zombies. The orbs clatter as they roll in a wide arc.

At this moment, only Z1 and Z3 are still focused on your group. Z3 has eyes only for Criscor for now.

[Pulpatoon]

From the doorway, Salt Peter nocks a third arrow. He takes a moment to catch his breath, and aims carefully.

Bow: [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15; Damage [1d6] = 4
Finally a decent roll! Targeting either Z1 or 2.

[coil23]

Salt Peter's third arrow flies true, sinking into a zombie eye. The creature stumbles and collapses to the floor, unmoving. The second zombie continues toward your group at the doorway, making its way into the scattering marbles.

[1d20] = 8

It stumbles and falls after losing balance on the glass orbs. Slowly, clumsily, it tries to stand again.

The third zombie is still intent on Criscor. Constant, breathless screaming issues from the hood over his head as the creature tears at his shoulder and neck with its teeth. He still struggles to break away from the creature, though more feebly. His hands still strain at the bonds to reach into his tunic.

Hennoth stands in the hallway, looking back and forth down both directions, mace held tightly in his hands. He seems to be trying to keep an eye on everything and everyone at once.

Z1 dead
Z2 trying to stand again
Z3 intent on Criscor

[Pulpatoon]

I feel like I'm leap-frogging rounds, but here's Salt Peter's next shot, for whenever it's needed:
Bow: [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19; Damage [1d6] = 2

Salt Peter laughs as the zombie tumbles on Travix's marbles. "Yer a fine feller fer tricks and charms, me dog!"

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix smiles in the face of danger, impressed with the halflings good shot.

Ya, thanks! I do what I can. He says with a shrug.

Now lets take these other two down before someone other than this a-hole gets hurt. He points to the hooded bandit as he watches him struggle with his foe.

Travix quickly looks to Hennoth. If this bandit here tries to flee, bonk him on his head with your metal club. And watch out! He is clearly hiding a weapon or something in his tunic by the way he is fidgeting around like that.

The mage doesn't want to use any of his precious spells on these simple monsters. He steps back and throws a dart at the zombie that he tripped up with his marbles.

Attack w/ Dart [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 Damage [1d4] = 2

I cant remember. Only one dart throw per round in LL?

[coil23]

Hennoth nods grimly at Travix's instructions and waits with mace ready.


Salt Peter's arrow and Travix's dart both find homes in the corpse now getting up off the floor. The thing wheezes one last gasp and then collapses back onto the floor and stops moving. The third zombie, having just taken a bite from a now unmoving Criscor's neck, seems to notice your party again and drops the bandit's body. It rises and begins walking toward your group.

Z2 now dead as well, Z3 up and on the move


Travix:

yes, only 1 dart/round

[Mant72]

Tip:

Tip backs away towards the doorway, takes aim at the last remaining zombie, and lets loose another arrow.

To Hit with Short Bow: [1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9; Damage: [1d6] = 6

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter, feeling overly confident after two solid hits, starts to show off a little. "Like fish inna barrel!" he grins as he bends over and aims between his legs at the remaining zombie.

Bow: [1d20+2] = 2+2 = 4; Damage [1d6] = 2

Needless to say, he misses, terribly.

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix hides his smile and shakes his head at the halflings antics, but doesn't mention it out loud. He fires another tiny missile at the dead body as he continues to back away from it.

Attack w/ Dart [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20 Damage [1d4] = 3

Hennoth! Come on in and take a swing at this thing! You need some practice.

[coil23]

Tip lets loose another arrow that narrowly misses the undead thing still shuffling toward your party as you stand at the doorway.

Salt Peter's antics serve up an arrow in an entirely different part of the room. Hennoth stands perplexed at the halfling's glee and horseplay with this horrific creature coming at them. He seems unsure and only takes a few steps forward.

Travix's second dart sinks home and the zombie falters but continues moving forward.

This wound seems to steel Hennoth and he strides forward to swing his mace at the monster's head.

[1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19[1d6+1] = 1+1 = 2

The mace collapses the left side of the thing's skull and it crumples where it stands. A thick black puddle slowly oozes from the thing at Hennoth's feet. He starts to gag and then regains his composure. Looking to the others he nods grimly.

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix pats the boy on the shoulder pretty hard.

Im damn glad you came along with us young Hennoth! You have proven yourself to be a great comrade in arms, my boy!

Sombody should probably check to see if that lying idiot is still breathing. Take care though! This may just be another of his moronic tricks. Idiot bandit.

He hollers up the hall towards the stairs. Everything good up there, Graela? We should be up in a jiffy!

He then grabs up a torch and begins checking through the rest of the room.

[Pulpatoon]

Salt Peter claps Hennoth on the leg. "Aye, lad, ye did well an' thars no doubt. Yer part o' ther crew now. We'll get ye ther tattoo when we're back in town."

Even more cautiously, this time, he begins to pick through the refuse. "Tip, is rot-walkin' somethin' ye can catch? We should probably make sure Criscor isn't gonna come down with a case."

[Mant72]

Tip:

Looking around at the grisly aftermath, Tip nods his appreciation and admiration to all of his companions. He responds to Salty, "The restless dead, no, I don't think they are hosts to something contagious, but we should still be wary; anything may be possible. I've heard tales spun around the hearth back at the shire claiming that they are the creation of malevolent wizards and priests."

Tip then makes his way to each of the corpses and sinks his short sword into their skulls for good measure. After he finishes with Criscor, he will check the bandit to see if he can find what he was groping for.

[coil23]

Searching through the refuse in the room you do not find anything of value. There are bones of small animals as well as gnawed remains of what seems like campfire meals (e.g. a venison haunch). Looking through the crates at the back of the room does not yield any results either. Anything that might have been worth something has either been taken or rotted away.

Hennoth goes over to check on Criscor's limp form. After a few moments he gets back up with something in his hands.
He is dead, the boy says somberly, and he had these. He holds out two stoppered flasks, identical to the empty ones you found at the top of the stairs to the cellar. They are holy water.

No response is heard after yelling out. It is unlikely anyone upstairs would hear you from down here.

[OGRE MAGE]

Travix feels a bit foolish after not finding the third plaque. Perhaps letting the bandit get eaten was not the best idea after all.

The mage picks up as many of his marbles as he can find and puts them back into his bag.

There is nothing in here apparently. Unless there is some hidden room or alcove that the plaque is stored in. Did anyone see anything that looks like a special hiding spot?

Not liking the silence from above, he grows concerned.

On of us should really go back up and check on the dwarf. I will go if the rest of you want to continue searching this place.