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Leitz wrote: ↑Sun Jul 14, 2024 10:12 pm Jiho held the sword back by force of will. "Wait a moment, eager one. We are not alone," he whispered. Once Si-woo shot, man and blade were free to engage.

Ji-ho: Magic blade [+?], Pussiance [+1], Inspire Allies [+?]
Jiho attack [_5d6]=(2+1+5+6+4)=18

Inspire Allies doesn't help with attacks unless you roll 12+. Its primarily a morale booster.
Si-woo scores 3 hits. They injure on 4+
Ji-hoo deals 4 wounds. He hits on 2+

Wight vs Ji-ho [_5d6]=(2+1+4+4+6)=17 3 hits. It needs 3s.
Ji-ho is temporarily reduced to 4HD. He doesn't stop being Heroic though.


Ji-ho finds himself altogether too accustomed to the horrid touch of undeath. But whereas the ghast was a filthy thing whose toxins gained unnatural power, this monster is an order more terrible. Just its proximity chills the blood and the cuts and bruises it inflicts feel like being plunged into freezing water. As soon as his blood spills it hardens and turns black as if the wound has been left untreated for days.

He feels the strength quickly seeping from his limbs and knows if this fight were to go on much longer he will be no match for the thing before him. It is ironically fortunate that its reckless hate leaves it open to counter attack.

The duel is over now and all around the enemy surge forward in a desperate effort. The Dark Priest does his best to hurl his minions in harm's way and withdraw.

Ji-ho is still in effective single combat as the others close by intercept the wave of zombies.
You all may enter melee, hang back to harass more with ranged attacks or use magic

Jing Si-woo

Si-woo did 1 Wound to the ogre-wight. Si-woo hits vs 4= [_3d6]=(3+5+2)=10

I assume Si-woo can't shoot over JJh, correct? If I'm wrong, Si-woo will shoot the ogre-wight. Otherwise the zombies.

Returning to his normal arrows as Cousin is still engaged in melee, Si-woo started shooting Zombies.
Hits: 4
Si-woo shoot [_4d6]=(3+3+2+6)=14

Wounds: 2/3 (if ogre-wight then 2, otherwise 3)
Si-woo wound [_4d6]=(4+1+3+6)=14


Jing Jiho

"Morwen, take the priest!" Jiho yelled as he again attacked the ogre-wight.

JJh: 4 Wounds
Jiho attack [_4d6]=(4+4+2+4)=14


Hemia

A thin, determined smile froze on Hemia's lips. Her eyes narrowed as she spied the dark priest trying to flee. She shifted herself to the right, putting a clump of zombies between her and the priest. Maybe they would claw their way over their former master? She lifted her holy symbol so that the fading sunlight glowed around it.

Hemia Turn Undead: 11 undead of 3HD or less are turned.
Base 7, +1 Wis, (if Inspire Allies gives Skill bonus, then +1 for that)
Hemia turn undead [2d6]=7


Rolton

His troops had scattered the brigands, then those who tried to flee over the wall fell when their unprotected legs were cut and then died under the hooves of warhorses. Rolton himself led the way, leaving a lance protruding through an ogre and then using his sword to good effect. He paused to watch the single combat between the dwarf, and paled like everyone else when the ogre-wight rose from its own death. Morwen's cry of the need for magic frustrated Rolton, and his horse stomped his own fury as Lord Jing moved forward to single combat.

Then the zombies were released. Rolton saw Hemia move forward and then turned to his troopers; he saw the fright in their eyes. No man should see such evil, yet here they were. He raised his sword and shouted. "They died once, they can die again! The Priestess Hemia lights the way! Forward! Charge!"

Saying nothing else, Rolton simply lowered blade to ready and led the way. Samwood had naught to do but follow his knight and do his best.

If Rolton can get to the dark priest, so much the better.
Rolton: 3 wounds
Rolton attack [_4d6]=(5+5+6+1)=17

Samwood: 1 wound
Samwood [_1d6]=(6)=6


Drotik

Ever the sharp eye, Drotik found his target and fired.

Drotik: 3 hits, 2 wounds?
Drotik shoot @+1 [_4d6]=(1+3+5+5)=14
Drotik wounds [_3d6]=(3+5+1)=9


Gar and Winifred

Too habituated to let Hemia get far on her own, Gar launched into the zombies that might get close to her. With no other idea, Winifred followed Gar and tried not to get killed.

Gar: 3(?) wounds
Gar attack [_3d6]=(3+6+4)=13
Winifred: 1(?) wound
Winifred attack [_2d6]=(1+4)=5

Verdugo

Fighting the undead wasn't a popular sport back home, but it seemed like a habit this far north. A man who sells his blade-service should demonstrate skill, and Verdugo joined the slaughter.

Verdugo: 3 wounds (has Pussiance(Melee))
Verdugo attack [_3d6]=(5+2+3)=10


The Rangers are with the archers, outside of the wall and shooting anyone who tries to escape.

Morwen

Even before Jiho gave his order, Morwen was already gunning for the Dark Priest. Raising one hand, she glanced at the scroll with the Lightning spell inscribed upon it, aiming the bolt at everyone on the enemies' side between her and the Dark Priest, hoping to provide a clear path for Macnav to hurl his javelin at the other caster.

roobeastie wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 5:58 pm Morwen

Even before Jiho gave his order, Morwen was already gunning for the Dark Priest. Raising one hand, she glanced at the scroll with the Lightning spell inscribed upon it, aiming the bolt at everyone on the enemies' side between her and the Dark Priest, hoping to provide a clear path for Macnav to hurl his javelin at the other caster.

The caster level of a scroll is either your own or the minimum level to cast it normally. In this case its 5 so roll [_5d6]

scarik wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 6:00 pm

roobeastie wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 5:58 pm Morwen

Even before Jiho gave his order, Morwen was already gunning for the Dark Priest. Raising one hand, she glanced at the scroll with the Lightning spell inscribed upon it, aiming the bolt at everyone on the enemies' side between her and the Dark Priest, hoping to provide a clear path for Macnav to hurl his javelin at the other caster.

The caster level of a scroll is either your own or the minimum level to cast it normally. In this case its 5 so roll [_5d6]

Lightning Bolt [_5d6]=(4+4+2+5+3)=18

Hemia's holy symbol fills with inner light and lashes out toward the zombies. Where it touches them the undead shrink back and turn to flee, but such is the press that while only a dozen are affected they are simply in the way and halt the entire charge in its tracks. Rolton's counter charge thus finds a disorganized mass that he dispatches with ease. By arrow and spear the others find the enemy similarly easy to overcome.

Jing Ji-ho fights on against the Wight and it remains as savage and pitiless a foe as before. But even with his flagging strength his arms are superior and he cuts the wicked thing down, and while its black ichor stains the ground it runs off the magic sword like water off feathers. However the victory is hard won and the Wight strikes many punishing blows in return before it finally succumbs. And with victory the Easterner staggers and his strength finally fails .

For a moment the battle seems to pause. The magic scroll erupts with blue fire and fills the area with the sharp tang of ozone as Morwen molds it into a ball and hurls it toward the enemy. It reaches the enemy a bare ten yards from her and erupts into a thunderbolt that rips through the mass of newly risen zombies and men. To a one they are hurled back and thrown, burned and still, to the ground.

With her sharp eyes she can see a moment of fear on the Dark Priest's face as the bolt passes through his chest and shatters his wicked body in an instant. His apprentice, a bare arms length away is shielded by his master's body and staggers, bloodied but alive. Macnav wastes no time and hurls a javelin that catches the acolyte in the arm.

JJh save: base 5, +1 Toughness, +1 Heroic, +1 Inspire Allies (?): Alive but unstable. Will the HD return over time, or does he have to regain the XP?
JJh save [2d6]=5

Leitz wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 7:40 pm JJh save: base 5, +1 Toughness, +1 Heroic, +1 Inspire Allies (?): Alive but unstable. Will the HD return over time, or does he have to regain the XP?
JJh save [2d6]=5

Roll for Wound Severity as well pls.

scarik wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 7:58 pm

Leitz wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 7:40 pm JJh save: base 5, +1 Toughness, +1 Heroic, +1 Inspire Allies (?): Alive but unstable. Will the HD return over time, or does he have to regain the XP?
JJh save [2d6]=5

Roll for Wound Severity as well pls.

Sorry, missed that. Base 10, any mods?
JJh Wound Severity [2d6]=10

Leitz wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 8:00 pm Sorry, missed that. Base 10, any mods?
JJh Wound Severity [2d6]=10

The same before so +3. Minor Wound. He'll be fine tomorrow, though he will need magic to recover the lost HD.

With the death of the champion and the priest the enemy morale breaks. The undead fight on to the death, however, and for many of the men of Borderton it is a harrowing experience to see the faces of those they know among the zombies. It is a small mercy then that Sir Tylar's knights come thundering into the camp and render the remaining undead into barely recognizable collections of bodies. At the head of the rabble (those most likely to have family among the undead) Sir Kyl strides forward with his mace raised high, shining with radiant power. All around him the undead quaver and recoil and those unable to flee fall down as his feet, the power that animates them fleeing before the power of The Lawgiver.

The Margrave and his guards join the fray and put the remainder of the enemy to flight. Many among the fleeing brigands meet their end under a hail of arrows. Others by sword and mace from the cavalry, but none escape, and it is Rolton the bastard, who claims the head of the dark acolyte. A great cheer goes up among the victorious men.

By the time the sun finally sets the men have gathered the bodies of the dead and set great bonfires to ward off the night. As is custom the contents of the camp are rightful plunder and are distributed among the victors. In addition the Margrave rolls out several butts of ale and haunches of venison and boar to be given to the soldiers. As the men celebrate the Lord of Borderton gathers the leaders to dine with him.

Jing Ji-ho is too weak to stand and so is borne to the table on a couch and it is there that the Margrave comes and commands Rolton to kneel beside the eastern lord and then calls for Sir Kyl to bear witness and to hand him his sword.

He begins with Rolton, "As Lord of the Westermark, I dub you Sir Rolton Forester, champion of the Borderlands. Go forth and suffer no further blows to be unanswered." The Margrave taps his sword against Rolton's shoulder and then hauls the new knight to his feet whereupon he delivers the Final Blow with a hard slap of his hand to the young man's face. Rolton staggers from the hit and a cheer erupts in the tent as knights rush to be the first to offer him a drink. No one is surprised that it is Sir Schad as the giant man easily muscles the others aside.

A moment later the Margrave surprises the company when he calls for silence.

"It is my privilege and my joy to induct worthy warriors into the Brethren of the Sword and on this day none can deny that his man has earned entry." The Margrave then delivers the dub to Jing Ji-ho though in deference to his injuries he merely grasps the man's forearm with his own. "I will accept no protests and so I dub you Sir Ji-ho Deathslayer and in the Light of the Law I revoke your Letters of Marque and grant you dispensation over the lands to the west of the high road." It is Sir Tylar who is first to drink with Sir Ji-ho and ensures he can eat his fill.

The Margrave then has words with Morwen and grants his leave to collect the bodies of the brigands for they are outlaws and thus not deserving of proper burial rites. Thus they will be scriven and marked in death. The bodies of the recovered loggers and their families, even those who were raised as zombies, will be laid to rest the following day once a grave can be opened and sanctified for them.


Sir Kyl Turn Undead [2d6]=10 He destroys a number of 1HD Undead equal to those he turns.
Rolton vs the Acolyte [_4d6]=(4+2+3+6)=15 Rolton cuts him down.

Leitz wrote: ↑Tue Jul 16, 2024 8:09 pm What type of magic, just healing?

A permanent solution requires rituals but we will get to that later.

The celebrations continue into the night and Barnaby finds that he is in high demand across the social spectrum with everyone wanting to hear his recounting of events. So much so that the Margrave comes outside to watch rather than having Barnaby come in and thus remove him from the sight of the commoners. A massive bonfire is built in the center of the camp and the area cleared for the bard to command the attention of the people.

The next day the grim work of laying the dead to rest is done and it takes until sunset. The smell of incense fills the air as the clerics bless the dead and all hands are required due to the scale of the task. Soldiers wrapped in scented masks arrange bodies while others dig and still others take axes to clear more space. A large flat stone is placed on the stump of an old oak tree for Sir Kyl to dedicate as an altar.

Of the surviving brigands most are hanged at dawn from the limbs of an ash tree that will evermore be known as the gallows tree. Several of the lieutenants and guards of the leaders are to be marched back to Borderton where they can be interrogated and then hanged in the town square.

Notably absent are the Ravenfolk who depart with the bodies of the brigands in carts just after the executions to see to their own grim rites.



The next day the army disperses and life begins to return to normal.

The Brigand hunt is now over. I will calculate XP and spoils.

Dramm and Barnaby will give their spoils bit by bit to barmaids, taverners, the kind-of-good luthier who restrings Barnaby's lap harp when a string breaks, the Lad who cleans Dramm's armor and tries to get free spear fighting lessons for it ...

"There's no such thing as overtipping," Barnaby mentions to Dramm. "It's blood money, let's clean it in commerce."

tibbius wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 10:18 pm Dramm and Barnaby will give their spoils bit by bit to barmaids, taverners, the kind-of-good luthier who restrings Barnaby's lap harp when a string breaks, the Lad who cleans Dramm's armor and tries to get free spear fighting lessons for it ...

"There's no such thing as overtipping," Barnaby mentions to Dramm. "It's blood money, let's clean it in commerce."

This counts as Carousing in this system which earns you XP.