Adam moves to try and keep the effigy trapped.
The effigy tries to push past him and escape the watery trap Totschlager pushed in into. (Effigy in the fountain (3d6=5)) It swings at Adam, now desperate. If fire could be afraid, this is how it would look. (Effigy slam attack (1d20+8=18, 2d6+4=13)) In it's panic, it connects, knocking Adam from his mount. He seems to fall in slow motion.
In the same moment, Totschlager screws up his face and courage. With all his skill, his axe finally finds purchase in the wooden skeleton. The slashing blade cleaves all the way through the burning man and in an instant, what had been an ambulatory bonfire is nothing more than a fitfully flaming pile of rubble, quickly being put out by the fountain.
Ioan rushes to Ardonk's side, magically healing him back to a stunned consciousness. He still has that same shocked look on his face as when the pitchfork had slid into his gut.
And with that, the battle is over. Adm lies in critical conditional. Everyone is tired, sore, covered in soot. The is much blood on the ground and ash in the air. The fire is now completely out and it is hard to imagine that this pile of refuse and trash just moments ago was a animated killing monster.
Quietly, over the deep breathing of the party, sad notes from a violin come drifting across the night sky. Compounding the natural let down as the adrenaline drains form their bodies, each and every conscious member of the party is over come with pity. That Raul can create such music... the pain he must feel in his heart... it's almost more than your weary souls can bear.
((Congratulations! That was a beast of a fight. The CR challenge rating was an extremely dangerous one. I think it showed. You all did a great job. XPs for this fight will be awarded and announced with the next monthly post (Monday).))
"Nice swing, Totsy!"
Ioan moves to Adam's side and lays hands on his fallen comrade.
"Didn't I just do this a minute ago?"
Cure Light Wounds=4
"Totsenchopper, are you holdin' up okay? I can do this a couple more times tonight."
(OOC - Ioan has either one or two CLWs left. I forget, I don't have my character sheet with me. I'll put 'em where they're needed most. 4hp the first time, and 8hp the second.)
Egdar front lawn [12/13hp] {3,1} /60"movement/
"Let us hope that the baleful flames of hatred have been exstinguished permanently."
Edgar walks a few paces from the party and weaves his fingers in an odd pattern while letting a small amount of dirt fall. He watches the fountain intently for several moments before slowly approaching the house.
(Detect Undead- 1 minute duration will allow for 3 rounds at the fountain, 3 rounds scanning the outside of the house, and 4 rounds for the interior from the front door.)
Egdar returns to the fountain. If the undead aura has disipated and he sees the medallion of office, he retrieves it and presents it to Ardonk.
"I believe that the man this now belongs to will be arriving in town soon. I suspect that he will be looking for his badge of office along with revenge for those responsible. I hope to be far from here when he does."
Totschlager at the fountain: leaning on his axe | 11/27 HP | 1d20=18
Totschlager takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. As the violin music sweeps over him, he begins to relax. Suddenly the pain of the occasion sinks in. Wolf bites, wolf claw marks, and flame-blisters cover the bits of exposed skin at the edges of his armor. He turns to Ioan.
"Yes, friend. I gratefully accept your help. I could benefit from your healing powers."
Totschlager slings his axe and begins to pick up his wet pack and its dicarded contents. As he does so, he cannot but help thinking about the horrific thing that now lays in shambles in the fountain. Moving, flaming wood... and that bucket it used for a head... Totschlager could still feel the thing's abysmal stare from that knot in the side of that bucket. He shudders slightly in the cooling night air. It's the air that makes me shiver, he justifies to himself.
Awesome posts, EVERYONE!!! Totally a team effort! And bravo, GM, for a thrilling fight!
Edgar uncovers no signs of the undead. The scene appears odd in the darkness. The burning manor casts a bright light over the the lawn. The sad song of Raul's violin provides a poignant soundtrack to the scene.
Adam is recovering from his multiple near-death experiences while Totschlager sits, rubbing his sore arms and rocking just a little bit. Now that the menace has passed, a glassy look has invaded his eye.
Edgar recovers the medallion, a large clunky ostentatious display of wealth. A thick golden chain attached to a roughly circular... or perhaps octagonal, the heat has altered things somewhat... weight. It is heavy. It may have once sparkled. It is now ugly. He tosses it to Ardonk.
The revolutionary stares at the medallion. He nods at Edgar's suggestion.
"I think maybe you're right. I need to think... about... a lot of things."
The fire in the manor begins to die. It's amazing how fast a building can burn to the ground. The party begins to gather their items together. The music fades as well and the group is left alone in the growing darkness. The trip to the tavern is uneventful.
After pounding on the door, and awaiting the bouncers withering glare, Ardonk gets them admitted. The same rousing cheer initially greets Ardonk before falling flat as the state of the group becomes apparent. Silence reigns before Ardonk performs more of his magic.
"Good news! These brave men have ridden the village of the menace once and for all. That boyar Szimin continued to terrorize us from beyond the grave. His hatred of Gundar was so strong it animated and tried to destroy us!"
The crowd roars. You all know the truth. You also all know you could never sway this village from Ardonk's grasp. You can see it in his eye as he moves away from you, pointing back.
"These are the heroes of the day! They saved my life. They saved us all!"
A huge cheer erupts. Mugs are thrust in your direction. 'Liza appears with a gleam in her eye. This is what is feels like to be adored. But deep in your hearts, you know it is tainted. Yes, you saved the village. But the threat was not what they believed it to be.
((Today's post should be your response to this. Feel free to extrapolate. Tomorrow, we start a new thread and this one will be locked and closed. XPs will be awarded Monday but a rough calculation indicates you will all be leveling up so start thinking about that!))
Adam sits at his table and ponders. He plays with the mug in front of him and stares at Ardonk mixing with the villagers. For Adam there is truth which most people refuse to recongnize or accept. It is too hard for them. When confronted with the truth they find it difficult, unforgiving and terrifying.
Then there is the easy way. The way that avoids the truth or perhaps admits half truth. Rationalization soothes the pricked conscience until it is lulled into a deep sleep never to recover. Adam wonders, does he help Ardonk see the truth with all its pain and terror or let it slide. What is his responsibility in this new world.
He thinks on the words of the One, "Truth and integrity free us from the bonds of our weaknesses and doubt. These bonds leave scars, but this is a wound of growth and maturity. Wear it with dignity and become a Son of God." He shudders at the pain and knows what he must do.
Lowering his head Adam prays silently for the strength and patience needed for the upcoming conversation. He prays that through his words he can help Ardonk see the truth, survive the pain and grow.
He rises from the table and approaches Ardonk. He will stand directly in front of Ardonk in a non-confrontatial manner. When he has Ardonk's attention he will ask in a normal voice,
"Ardonk, why didn't you tell your friends here the truth about the death of the Boyer and the cause of the fires. You, I and my companions know the truth don't we?"
Diplomacy roll (1d20+6=9)
Ardonk speaks with a smile on his face. But his words are quiet and cold.
"Yes. I know the truth. I killed Szimin by mistake and not malice. And in payment for my mistake, he came back from beyond the grave unnaturally and killed over two dozen innocent people. Burned them alive. Women. Children. He was a monster. He deserved to die. Both the first time and the second. What other truth would do you see? Are you not heroes?"
And you know that Ardonk has made his choice. He sees the world from his point of view... one that he holds strongly... one that he cannot survive without. And these people, these villagers, need hope. They live hard, difficult lives. And a man like Ardonk gives them that hope. The idea that the future will be better than the past. This is why they flock to him. This is why they listen to him. He tells them what they need to hear... and what he truly believes.
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