Chapter 20: Hungry Are The Dead

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo climbs one branch higher?

[Urson]

Pyotr

Pyotr is slipping back into the terror-fueled rage that drove him before. He pushes forward, trying to protect his comrades.

[1d20] = 4

His blade whooshes through the air, accomplishing nothing. As he tries to defend the others, he pours a steady stream of verbal abuse on the zombies.

Musor yest mudak ublyudok kapusta!

[Inferno]

Vicar's Head, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Four. Midday. Tuesday, November 15th, 576 CY
Cold, foggy, cloudy







"It was nice knowing you, Urdur," Telkis says as he draws his shortsword.

Then the unspeakable man-beast strikes, springing like a panther, lunging at Urdur and brutally ripping him open with unforgiving claws and fangs! (5hp damage!) The gnome's bloodcurdling cries die in his throat as he is mercifully taken by unconsciousness.

Telkis the dwarf-like gnome slashes a glancing blow upon the feral abomination, inflicting little harm!

The blood-soaked, primal monstrosity licks its lurid lips and smiles hideously at Telkis, showing all its bright red teeth.


Actions?!


Map:







In his prison cell, Rudolf searches in vain for another stone as he hears his friends being murdered by things from beyond the grave.

Ingrid's devout orisons heal Hothhil's wounds (+4hp) but it is not enough to rouse him from the fitful dreams that hold him now.

Pyotr Whitetip slices only air with his unfamiliar blade. Then Ingrid watches in horror as the half-orc mariner is brutally beaten into unconsciousness by the host of charnel atrocities! (10hp damage!)

Like something out of darkest nightmare, Ingrid Esthof is alone and besieged by the reeking living cadavers (-11 to hp). But woefully, she is denied the peace of oblivion.


Actions?!


Map:








In the haunted wood beyond doomed Vicar's Head, the loathsome fallen emerge from out of the fog!

Somehow, the deathless corpses espy Bo! The macabre horrors snarl and growl beneath his tree! The grey druid counts four of them, at least!

Brevos the ranger continues north, making noise to draw off the tireless dead men. He and Mouser hike swiftly through the mist-cloaked forest, gaining altitude, moving away from the village of the damned.


Actions?!


Map:

1= Hothhil, Ingrid, Mondegreen, Pyotr, Rudolf in the dungeons. 2 = Bo in the woods. 3 = Telkis and Urdur near the desecrated church. ? = A pack of deathless pursuers. Brevos, Mouser and another pack of deathless pursuers are off the map, in the woods to the northeast.


Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 2, Monsters: [1d6] = 4 Monsters win, except zombies which always strike last in a round.
Werewolf attacks Telkis? (1) or Urdur? (2): [1d2] = 2, charging to hit: [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17, damage: [2d4] = 5 Hits Urdur for 5hp damage.
Z6, Z12 attack Ingrid: [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 12, damage: [1d8] = 4, [1d8] = 7 Ingrid is hit for 11 damage.
Z5, Z7 attack Pyotr: [1d20] = 14, [1d20] = 12, damage: [1d8] = 7, [1d8] = 3 Pyotr is hit for 10 damage.
Zombies detect Bo? (1): [1d6] = 1 I don't believe it.

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 13/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 8/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: -2/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 12", AC: 9(7), HP: 6/22, Spells: 2/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 19/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: -3/8, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: -5/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 1/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 12/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 0/9, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl and 1/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[ChubbyPixie]

“Maybe this ending is for the best,” says Telkis, the anger and regret in his voice barely contained, “Still, I’ll take you with me if I can.” He lashes out with the sword, regretting that his last stand couldn’t be with his beloved morningstar, Cranach...
Short Sword (THAC0 20): To Hit:[1d20] = 2, Damage: vs s/m [1d6] = 1, vs L [1d8] = 3

Um, really regretting it.

[Urson]

Pyotr

Pyotr gurgles as he's brought down, yet another Orcish curse dying in his throat.

[SocraticLawyer]

Urdur lies unconscious, his mind once again freed from the tether of his earthly senses. He searches for his oldest friend, Mittens, to guide him again through the aether.

[rredmond]

For lack of any ideas, Rudolph gathers himself by delivering the cheer of the Bronks halfling community ( ), a more urban group of hobbits known for their ability to nonverbally express disdain and scorn. He then searches again for any hidden/secret way out. He concentrates on the walls of the corner and the back wall. There's gotta be some kind of way out of here, he mumbles mainly to himself, occasionally looking over his shoulder at his undead friend and delivering at least one other Bronks cheer.

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Not giving up though the situation is dire, Ingrid again beseeches holy Tritherion for life giving aid for Hothhil. Unfortunately for the party, one of them is apparently deemed unworthy.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 1
Yup. That's a fitting way for this to end.

[wolfpack]

Brevos keeps with this plan moving ever north and making noise to draw the zombies with him.

[ravenn4544]

Mouser continues to follow.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo stays put where he is, observing the undead below his tree and wondering if any of them will still follow the others. He also wonders if Mouser and Brevos have realized that none of the monsters have followed them yet.

If the monsters start climbing, the druid will attempt to use his magic on them.

[Inferno]

Vicar's Head, Gran March, Greyhawk
Day Four. Midday. Tuesday, November 15th, 576 CY
Cold, foggy, cloudy







The hideous inhuman beast, poised over Urdur's body, looks up at Telkis and barks with savagery and hate.

Carrion crows alight on nearby rooftops, feigning casual attention to the coming feast. Charnel house rats show less decorum, scurrying out, chuckling blackly as they give nibble experimentally upon fallen Urdur's flesh. "Heh. Tastes just like elf!"

“Maybe this ending is for the best,” says Telkis, his voice heavy with emotion. He stabs again, missing badly, leaving himself wide open for the lupine horror's merciless jaws! (6hp damage!)


Actions?!


Map:






Rudolf searches again for a way out of his stone cell. To no avail. The dead man outside his cell loses interest in the unreachable hobbit, and joins the rest of the heinous pack, lured by the sound of carnage and murder.

In the center of that carnage, Ingrid Esthof stands alone. She keeps praying, but her prayers go unanswered. Hothhil does not awaken to her psalms of healing. (+1hp) And the lifeblood of Mondegreen and Pyotr continues to drain away.

Then the dead descend upon her!



Miraculously, beneath that hideous onslaught, the valiant priestess does not yet fall! (1hp damage)


Actions?!


Map:








Brevos and Mouser ascend the wooded slope of the dark mountains, making enough noise to summon the legions of hell down upon them. Already, they are breathing hard.

Far behind them, four deathless cadavers have treed the grey druid.



Bo watches, wondering if the undead sentinels would stand guard for eternity. Would he starve to death here? Die of thirst? Or collapse from exhaustion and fall to his death?

He doesn't wonder long. In horror, Bo watches as three of them start to slowly pull themselves up the tree!

One of them is making alarming speed and will soon have its dead, icy grip on Bo's ankle!


Actions?!


Map:

1= Hothhil, Ingrid, Mondegreen, Pyotr, Rudolf in the dungeons. 2 = Bo in the woods. 3 = Telkis and Urdur near the desecrated church. ? = A pack of deathless pursuers. Brevos, Mouser and another pack of deathless pursuers are off the map, in the woods to the northeast.


Non-required reading (rolls and rulings):

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Monsters: [1d6] = 5 Monsters win, except zombies which always strike last in a round.
Werewolf attacks Telkis: [1d20] = 20, damage: [2d4] = 3 Critical hit for 6hp damage.
Z6, Z12 attack Ingrid: [1d20] = 8, [1d20] = 5, damage: [1d8] = 1, [1d8] = 4 Z6 hits for 1hp damage.
Z5 attacks Ingrid: [1d20] = 5, damage: [1d8] = 7 Misses.
Zombies climb? Dex saves: (6): [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 1 Wow. Just wow.

PC Status:

• Brevos, Half-Elf Ranger 3: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 13/31
  Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 2/3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 8/15, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl
  Hothhil Thornbush, Elven Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: -2/20
  Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 4: Move: 12", AC: 9(7), HP: 5/22, Spells: 1/5 1st lvl and 4/4 2nd lvl
  Long Bo, Human Druid 4: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: 19/30, Spells: 5/6 1st lvl, 2/3 2nd lvl and 2/2 3rd lvl
  Mondegreen Cindereye, Human Magic-User 2: Move: 12", AC: 9, HP: -4/8, Spells: 1/2 1st lvl
  Pyotr Whitetip, Half-Orc Fighter 3: Move: 12", AC: 8, HP: -6/30
  Rudolf Rassendyll, Halfling Thief 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 1/12
  Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 3: Move: 9", AC: 0, HP: 6/32
  Urdur Shimmerstone, Gnome Illusionist 3: Move: 12", AC: 6, HP: 0/9, Spells: 2/2 1st lvl and 1/1 2nd lvl

PC Magic:

• None currently.

Player Resources:

• Tale of Terror (the story so far)
  A Dark and Terrible World (maps)
  Blasphemous Iconography (the story so far in images)
  Desperate Struggles (clues and player notes)

[Scott308]

Ingrid Esthof

Knowing her only chance is to somehow get the fighters back on their feet, Ingrid again beseeches holy Tritherion. Even if I have been deemed wanting, please, Holy Tritherion, do not refuse your benevolence to these good people, who will die without your aid! She once more attempts to heal Hothhil.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8] = 8

[wolfpack]

Brevos continues on, the hope is they come upon a cliff face withe the thought they could climb it leaving the mindless dead stuck against it. or if it is a drop off they could climb down and wait as the zombies shamble off it.

f no cliff is found then in a couple of more rounds he will stop making noise and move full speed away form them outdistancing them and should be bale to lose them with the fog and distance.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo worries for his friends as they move off into the forest, wondering if he will ever see them again. He wasn't sure if he ever trusted Mouser, but he always knew Brevos to be a good man. Hopefully his skills as a woodsman will prevail.

Looking down at the undead monsters below him, Bo isn't all that worried. Until he sees 3 of them begin to climb up the tree after him. That's when he wishes he would have heeded his own warning back in town before the blizzard.

In near panic mode now, foolishly believing that zombies lacked the mental fortitude to actually climb trees, the druid acts as fast as he can. Using the branches of the tree to support him by sticking a thick limb under the crotch of his armpit, (or both) he lifts his feet and begins a spell, praying it works under these conditions.

He attempts to entangle the climbing zombies in the branches of the trees as they advance on him, aiming his spell area to begin right at his own feet and extend downward from there.

I don't even know if that is possible, but I had to try something. Lets just hope that climbing zombies also attack last each round too.

[SocraticLawyer]

The spirit of the being known as Urdur waits for the wolf to complete its task, releasing the spirit from its tether to the mortal plane.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Hothhil walks through the dim forest, listening closely to the sounds of a stream. Once he finds it, he follows downstream as is swells and grows. Suddenly it is a river, and it grows louder and wilder until, at last, it is a thundering waterfall. He looks over the edge but the bottom is swallowed by mist, which rises and surrounds him, soaking him through. Through the din he hears words; desperate pleas for assistance. He does not hesitate, leaping from the ledge. The icy water is filled with heavy limbs, weighing him down, and the roaring changes. It is more sinister now, like the moaning of angry, tortured souls, and the limbs are pushing him down. His eyes blink open and he finds himself at the bottom of a pile of dead bodies, Pyotr and Mondegreen lie broken next to him, and Ingrid looks desperate. He claws the ground in search of his sword, almost resenting the magic that drew him back to this nightmare.

No attacking this round, correct? In case I'm wrong:Sword: [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8; sm [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5/lg [1d10+1] = 4+1 = 5

[ravenn4544]

Mouser keeps following. He glances at the sky from time to time thinking more about the upcoming moon as the sun slowly sinks...

[ChubbyPixie]

“Typical rat behavior! Get off my friend!” yells Telkis lunging again with the sword at the wolf man, shield raised.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis’ attack roll (connection here is garbage!)Short Sword (THAC0 20): To Hit:[1d20] = 14, Damage: vs s/m [1d6] = 5, vs L [1d8] = 3