Chapter 2: The Haunted Wood

[Zhym]

Grothnak hews at the zombie next to him.

Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 19): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13, Dmg [1d10+4] = 1+4 = 5 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 4+4 = 8 (L)

[AleBelly]

Pelias gasps at the pain and the shock of seeing so much of his own blood. "Heironeus, surely it is not yet time to call me to the afterlife!" he cries as he retaliates against the zombie that rent him so.

Attack with long sword (THAC0 20) [1d20] = 7, damage [1d8] = 2

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo tries to ignore the unbearable pain from the abominations blow. He thrusts his spear forward into the beast again, hoping to avoid any more damage inflicted upon himself.

Where in the nine hells are our fighters?!

Spear Attack [1d20] = 12 Damage [1d6] = 4

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

Mouser sees Grothnak close in on the last zombie as he hears Pelias grunt loudly, though heroically, in pain. The paladin is beset by undead.

The thief advances 20' northwest again using the cover of dark enshrouding forest. He positions himself for a backstab against a zombie (Z39) fighting Pelias. Then Grey Mouser lunges out, Scalpel thrusting into the unholy walking corpse, and twisting, slashing...

Scalpel (THACO 20) To Hit [1d20] = 14, S/M/L Dam. [1d8] = 6 +4 not included, x2 damage.

[Inferno]

Shadows and Fog: Round 4

Ingrid the priestess sees Pelais’ grave need and moves to his side to cast a spell of divine healing for her brother in arms. (heals 1 hp)

Hoom Feethos stands guard for the horses with short sword drawn and eyes fixed on the west.

Long Bo tries to ignore the unbearable pain from the abomination’s blow. The arboreal acolyte desperately thrusts his spear forward at the elf-beast again (Z39).
“Where in the nine hells are our fighters?!” he cries as his spear impales the soulless elf’s unbeating heart, running it through and killing it dead.

Grothnak the half-orc warrior hews at the skinless revenant in front of him (Z31). His enchanted halberd hacks off its left arm at the shoulder, but the haunted man keeps coming!

Z31.jpeg (77.81 KiB) Viewed 4129 times

Pelias gasps at the pain and the shock of seeing so much of his own blood. "Heironeus, surely it is not yet time to call me to the afterlife!" he cries as he retaliates against the skull-less zombie that rent him so (Z38). The young paladin misses, perhaps still reeling from so much blood loss.



Mouser hears Pelias grunt loudly, though heroically, in pain. The paladin is beset by undead. The thief advances 30' southeast using the cover of darkness. He positions himself for a backstab against the last breathless cadaver fighting Pelias (Z38). Then Grey Mouser lunges out, Scalpel thrusting into the unholy walking corpse, and twisting, slashing... until the grisly, skull-less monstrosity crashes to the forest floor, its unnatural life abandoning it at last.

Were the undead horrors mere mortal men or orcs, their morale could have broken by this wholesale slaughter of their kind. But the unholy automatons fought on, relentless and unstopping.

The two unliving cadavers entangled in the green howled and wrestled to break free, to no avail.

The macabre, skinless corpse that had lost its arm to Vadok (Z31) prepared to lunge at Grothnak and suddenly an arrow grew from its temple!

Elden Vodarte ('?' last round, now 'EV') had come crashing through the underbrush to the east, making way for the path, ignoring the looming being on his heels! Before him, the other walking corpse that he had glimpsed (Z38) was just skewered by the backstabbing Mouser.
Vodarte sees his friends and one last skinless carcass still fighting (Z31)! He raises his bow and grunts as he lets two arrows fly! One finds its mark, entering the brain at the temple. The ghastly necroman’s eyes fill with tears of blood and it falls dead at Grothnak's feet.

“SKRAAA!” cries Milah the Hawk (M) as it alights upon its master’s forearm.

The loathsome carrion (Z42) that had been chasing Vodarte through the dark woods lurches out from the treeline onto the forest path with a bloodcurdling shriek, slowly closing in on the woodsman!

Z42.jpg (344.26 KiB) Viewed 4129 times

The shouts of Telkis the Gnome grow fainter, and then stop.

Actions?!

Haunted Wood 5.jpg (516.82 KiB) Viewed 4129 times

DM Notes:

Sorry to repost images. Want to make it clear for Vodarte, who rejoined this thread.

Each map hex is 10 feet. The areas unshrouded by fog represent your visibility: 60 feet on the road due to mist, 30 feet in the woods due to mist and dense trees.
Off the path, movement is halved due to the density of trees.
Missile weapons get -1 to hit for every fog shrouded hex they pass through.
Telkis Brassfang's placement on the map is an approximation. Thanks.

No initiative roll. These creatures always attack last.
Ingrid: Cure Light Wounds on Pelias: [1d8] = 1 Heals 1 hp. Sorry!
Z42 doesn't have enough movement to reach Vodarte to attack him.

Status:
Elden Vodarte, Human Ranger 2: AC 3, HP 20/20
The Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 4(5), HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 2: AC 4, HP 7/17
Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 2: AC 3(1), HP 9/12, Spells: 1/4 1st lvl
Long Bo, Human Druid 2: AC 6, HP 5/15, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl and 1/2 2nd lvl
Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 1: AC 2, HP 4/11

Magic:
Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.
Entangle (Bo): Any creature that is dark green is entangled for 7 more rounds (Z36, Z34)

[Mister-Kent]

Vodarte, Ranger

Vodarte dashes to Mouser's side, partly out of breath. "Just a pleasant walk in the woods," he grunts. He lifts his arm and sends Milah back skyward, then draws his bow and fires at the creature on his trail.

Hearing the shouts just beyond them, his face creases with worry. "Any casualties?" he asks.

Longbow 1: [1d20] = 15 Damage: [1d8] = 1
Longbow 2: [1d20] = 4 Damage: [1d8] = 8

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo takes off through the woods in the direction that he last heard Telkis shouting.

We must help our little friend!

TELKIS! TELKIS! WHERE ARE YOU! SHOUT IF YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE!!!

[Zhym]

Grothnak joins Bo in the chase for Telkis.

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

Vodarte dashes to Mouser's side..."Any casualties?" he asks.

"Just my sling," quips Mouser. "One more zombie on the way. Attack frontal and I'll back stab."

The thief scatters caltrops 10' in front of Vodarte then draws into the woods for concealment. He waits and hopes the zombie steps on the caltrops, is hacked by the ranger, then Mouser lunges out from behind with two-fisted steel.

- Scalpel (THACO 20) To Hit [1d20] = 6, S/M/L Dam. [1d8] = 3
- Cat's Claw (THACO 20) To Hit [1d20] = 10, S/M Dam. [1d4] = 2, L Dam. [1d3] = 1

Or not.

[AleBelly]

Pelias' debts to his companions continues to grow, but matters are too urgent to express this. Believing that Mouser and Vodarte have the remaining zombie in hand, Pelias keeps his sword drawn and joins the half-orc and Bo in their search for Telkis.

In case he encounters any baddies:

Attack with long sword (THAC0 20) [1d20] = 11, damage [1d8] = 6

[Zhym]

Good point. Here's Grothnak's roll in case he encounters anything to kill:

Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 19): [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, Dmg [1d10+4] = 2+4 = 6 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 9+4 = 13 (L)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Hoom stands fast guarding the horses and keeping his eye on the west.

[OGRE MAGE]

In case a roll is needed this round for Bo as well.

Spear Attack [1d20] = 1 Damage [1d6] = 2

[Fulci]

Ingrid Esthof, cleric

"Lîhti," whispers Ingrid, and the head of her mace starts glowing, casting a light around her, dispersing the fog.
(Light spell)
She joins Vodarte and the Mouser.

In case of an attack, Ingrid strikes the enemy with her brightly illuminated mace.

Mace (THAC0: 20): To Hit: [1d20] = 4, damage: small [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6 / large [1d6] = 4

[Inferno]

Shadows and Fog: Round 5

"Lîhti," whispers Ingrid, and the head of her mace starts glowing with holy magic, casting a light around her, dispersing the gloom and the fog. She moves forward to meet Vodarte.

Vodarte dashes to Ingrid's and Mouser's side, partly out of breath. "Just a pleasant walk in the woods," he grunts. He lifts his arm and sends Milah back skyward, then draws his bow and fires at the creature on his trail (Z42).

Z42 maw.jpg (91.9 KiB) Viewed 4070 times

One arrow misses and the other merely nicks the living carcass! Its mouth continued shrieking beneath baleful, haunted eyes.

Hearing the shouts just beyond them, Vodarte’s face creases with worry. "Any casualties?" he asks.
"Just my sling," quips Mouser.

Long Bo takes off through the woods in the direction that he last heard Telkis shouting. “We must help our little friend! TELKIS! TELKIS! WHERE ARE YOU! SHOUT IF YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE!!!” Bo’s cries were muffled and scattered by the all-smothering fog.

Grothnak joins Bo in the chase for Telkis.

Pelias keeps his sword drawn and joins the half-orc and Bo in their search for the gnome warrior.

As they ran through the disorienting, moonlit, fog-cloaked forest, they were suddenly beset by a fearful, agonizing howl from the direction of Telkis. The terrified shriek was not of any undead creature!

Most southern of the three rescuers, the druid has the shortest distance to travel through the dense, dark woods. Bo comes into a small clearing where he sees a horrifying sight: an undead abomination, soaked in fresh blood, devouring a fresh body!

The body is that of Tobits, Telkis' donkey.

The horrendous horror feeding upon Tobits looks up at Bo’s sudden arrival. Bo saw that the dead flesh of this walking corpse (Z44) serves as host to the living: a festering, body-wide colony of mold, fungus and slime.



Two others are nearby in the clearing!
Telkis Brassfang is one of them, and he ferociously swings his Morningstar down onto the mossy monstrosity’s skull, exploding it in a wet thud of rotten bone shard and brains, ending its unnatural unlife, and avenging the death of his dear friend Tobits.
At Telkis' feet lay unmoving another of the undead Red Cloak goblins (Z45).

The other nearby thing is a nauseating, rotten-faced revenant (Z43) that lunges at Telkis with monstrous, hungry hands; reaching, clawing, grasping!



The disgusting carrion grabs Telkis, crushing his throat with inhuman strength, strangling him! (-2 hp)

Meanwhile, to the north, Hoom Feethos stands guard for the horses with short sword drawn and eyes fixed on the west, insuring they didn’t meet the same ghastly fate as poor Tobits.

The Grey Mouser scatters caltrops 10' in front of Vodarte then draws into the newly lit woods for concealment. He waits for the deathless terror.

The loathsome, screaming carrion (Z42) closes with its quarry, stalking through Mouser’s trap, unknowing and unaffected. The little thief has seen these unholy profanities missing hands, arms, even skulls! …completely unfazed.

Cursing softly, Mouser lunges out from behind the bloodless ghoul with two-fisted steel! Even with Ingrid’s beacon, the thief backstabs the unthinking horror, barely catching it with Cat’s Claw!

The soulless gaunt (Z42) lurches on, relentless. The fanged abyss of its voracious maw plagued by a hunger that could never be quelled. The frightful corpse plunges at Vodarte with its teeth, missing badly and leaving itself wide open for a counter attack! (please see DM notes)

To the south, near Telkis and Bo, another unliving cadaver (Z46) suddenly appears from the fog, also drawn by the shouting. This one had been a young girl in life. Her clothes are hideously provocative, no more than a harlot’s undergarments, revealing too much of her creepy, grey, dead flesh. Her young red mouth, stained with blood, hisses ferally at Telkis and Bo.


Actions?!

Haunted Wood 6.jpg (497.18 KiB) Viewed 4070 times

DM Notes:

Each map hex is 10 feet.
The areas unshrouded by fog represent your visibility: 60 feet on the road due to mist, 30 feet in the woods due to mist and dense trees.
Off the path, movement is halved due to the density of trees.
Missile weapons get -1 to hit for every fog shrouded hex they pass through.

No initiative roll. These creatures always attack last.
Z43: To Hit Telkis: [1d20] = 18, damage: [1d8] = 2 Hits for 2 hp.
Mouser Caltrops to hit Z42: [1d20] = 13 [1d20] = 6 One hits.
Mouser Caltrops: 25% chance to reduce movement to 3/4: [1d100] = 48 No.
Z42: To Hit Vodarte: [1d20] = 1, damage: [1d8] = 6 Fumbles.
Z42: Fumble: [1d8] = 5 5: 'The target of your attack gets an additional free attack on you this round.'
I don’t know if Vodarte wants to back up and use the bow, or swing with his axe. So, Mr. Kent, you get a bonus attack on Z42 next round. It will occur first, pre-empting all other actions. Ingrid and Mouser may act with the knowledge of Mr. Kent’s die roll result before stating their actions. Thanks.

Status:
Elden Vodarte, Human Ranger 2: AC 3, HP 20/20
The Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 4(5), HP 10/10, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 2: AC 4, HP 7/17
Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 5/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 2: AC 3(1), HP 9/12, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl
Long Bo, Human Druid 2: AC 6, HP 5/15, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl and 1/2 2nd lvl
Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 1: AC 2, HP 4/11
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 2: AC 0, HP 14/19

Magic:
Entangle (Bo): Any creature that is dark green is entangled for 6 more rounds (Z36, Z34).
Light (Ingrid): 2” radius globe of light on Ingrid’s mace, for 7 more rounds.
Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.

[Zhym]

Grothnak charges to attack either of the zombies to the east.

In case he manages to get into melee range:
Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 19): [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14, Dmg [1d10+4] = 2+4 = 6 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 8+4 = 12 (L)
Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 19): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19, Dmg [1d10+4] = 9+4 = 13 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 6+4 = 10 (L)

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Seeing a dancing shadow to the west but unable to determine what it is, Hoom slowly and quietly steps forward, with his short sword firmly grasped in his hand, until the shadow is revealed.

OOC: I move down one hex.

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Warrior

Telkis, still recovering from his stumble, suddenly feels frigid, clawing hands around his throat. Gasping and straining, he brings Cranach up sharply as he was taught to do in close quarter fighting, attempting to cave in the side of the undead bastard's head.
Morningstar +1 (THAC0 18): To Hit:[1d20] = 12, Damage: vs s/m [2d4+1] = 6+1 = 7, vs L [1d6+2] = 3+2 = 5

[OGRE MAGE]

Seeing that this fight is not yet over, and knowing the slow speed of these creatures, Bo waves Pelias and Grothnak by him into battle as he digs into his pouch for some herbs. He casts a quick healing upon himself in case he has to get in close again, and then rushes in towards Telkis with his spear drawn.

CLW [1d8] = 5

[Mister-Kent]

Elden Vodarte, Human Ranger

Vodarte's adrenaline surges at the near miss, and with fair Ingrid near his side he is motivated to take an attack of opportunity. He strikes back furiously with the Axe of Obad-Hai. "Back, fell creature!" he shouts.

Bonus axe attack to hit: [1d20] = 7
Bonus axe attack: [1d6] = 6
Regular axe attack to-hit: [1d20] = 14
Regular axe attack: [1d6] = 1