Act I: An Inauspicious Start

[Ikoma]

Yemam gets to the fight first.  He dismounts well clear of the zombies and fires at the nearest zombie.  The arrow hits, but piercing the zombie seems to have little impact.

Marius runs up to a good position to fire his arrows while leaving room for Hassid and the rest of the melee types.  "Hey Yemam, here we go again," Marius lets an arrow fly at the same zombie that Yemam had just hit.  His arrow seems to do a bit more... but still not a lot.  "where are you all coming from?  Back you foul things.  If I told them once, I keep telling them, do you have any idea who you're messing with!"

As Adam rode along the road into the square, a bundle of fear welled in his stomach.  He counted nine zombies and "something" else.  This was bad and good friends may die.  Almost as bad as when Zunder forced the Legion through Crown Gap.  Only a 100 of the 5,000 survived that bloody day.  Adam still wasn't sure why he was one of them.  He said a brief prayer for himself, Marius and the remainder of his companions.  He asked for courage, strength and faith to see this battle through.  It was evident the Goodness was making a stand against Evil.  His sword arm and faith were required.  His spirits brightened as he witnesses his comrades brave charge into battle.  If they felt fear they didn't show it.  The love that he felt in his heart for them overpowered the fear hiding in his gut.

Waving his great sword he surge forward screaming forth the battle cry, "For the Light and for the Tree, evil will not prevail tonight."  Adam's war cry draws a fierce "Hirrah!" from the woman near the well.  His sword stroke has a much greater impact on the zombie than the arrows did.  But the monstrosity still stands, blood dripping like drool from its open lips.

The zombie further from the group reveals itself to be something new when it moves with a speed you have never seen before.  It trys to slams into the back of the woman warrior, attempting to knock her from her feet.  With a well timed swing of her solid shield, she holds the thing at bay.  But she now finds herself fully encased in the undead.  On of the zombie pinning her, slips on its mangled foot, falling to the ground.

Hassid gallops StarDancer in and at the last moment let her turn away as he leaps off the saddle into a charge against one of the zombies.  The momentum serves him well as he slices into the undead and rotting flesh, exposing a rib cage and an unbreathing lungs.  The thing does not acknowledge this.

Zombies continue to shuffle and moan, attracted to the beating hearts without all your bodies.  The zombie facing Adam and the zombie facing Hassid both grope unsuccessfully but determinedly for a hold that would allow them to tear the warriors apart.

As they ride up on the scene, Lorelei pales even more if at all possible. "Huh.." Was all that she says as she blasts the nearest zombie from atop her horse. As her purplish blast slams into it's chest, she slips effortlessly from the saddle.

Ioan watches with pride as his companions lay into the nearest zombies.  Still atop his horse, he sees the dire plight of the lone fighter at the center of the square. "Form up in the middle! She needs our help!" He invokes a Spiritual Weapon, which springs into existence and immediately attacks one of the zombie threatening her.

The woman herself defends herself with her blade.  Targeting the same zombie just struck by the spiritual hammer, she slices its leg deeply, making its already difficult ability to stand even more challenging.

Several zombies have been damaged.  But none have been destroyed.  And they press in with a mindless zeal to devour your flesh.


((A pair of zombies does plug the gap in the barricade immediately in front of Hassid.  Full XP post coming tomorrow.))

[Ikoma]

Yemam readies another arrow.  His first instinct is to attack the same zombie as before, but he focuses on the zombie in H8 in order to weaken it and help the mysterious woman.  However, the shear number of undead around the group make Yemam nervous and his arrow misses its target.

"Damn it to many, too many,"  Marius says frustratingly and repositions to next to Ioan.  He reaches for the magic within his blood Disrupt Undead and aims at the zombie facing Adam.  The bolt blasts the zombie.  Other zombies still come forward.

The fast moving zombie slams into the woman.  She staggers a bit, as if she had lost her footing for a second and then regained it.

Hassid focuses his attention to the zombie before him again focusing on how he can place his blade in ways that would cripple the beast.  Hassid fights to clear a way to the lone fighter in the middle.  His sword sundered the first zombie in a spray of mist.  With a deft 5 foot step, he puts himself into the breach of the barricade... beginning the process of forcing the way into the square.  But more zombies spilled in to fill up the gap.  With another swing of his sword, he carves out another piece of another zombie.

Zombies swarm around the lone fighter but her armor and shield hold the creatures at bay.  A pair of zombies grab at Hassid.  He feels their cold fingers but they barely miss getting a hold.  His luck will not hold forever.  Another zombie has much more success against Adam.  He feels rotting teeth sink into his forearm.  [-10 HP]

Still upon his horse, Ioan reaches out and touches Adam, invoking Bull Strength upon the paladin (+4 strength, +2 to all STR bonuses, including To-Hit and Damage). "Go to her in strength" he says, pointing to the badly outnumbered woman at the center of the square.  Meanwhile, his spiritual weapon presses its attack on the zombie before it.  The aid is appreciated.  But the zombie still stands.

Adam feels the divine strength enter his body.  It was both exhilarating and breathtaking to receive a touch of the Divine.  He bows his appreciation to Ioan and turns to finish the damaged zombie.  Adam stands in his stirrups and smashes his great sword into the head of the zombie.  Bone and gore erupt from the creature's brain pan as the zombie's head explodes.

While wiping goo from his face Adam backs his horse 20 feet and makes a run at the barricade in an attempt to leap it.  The valiant animal easily clears the barricade landing smoothly on the other side.  Adam, however, wasn't so lucky.  As the horse starts its gallops Adam's hair begins blowing in his face.  He reaches up and brushes it aside.  Closer to the barricade more hair falls into his eyes and as he began to brush it away he realizes that his hair wasn't long enough to hang into his eyes.  He gasps the offending hair to study it as the mount begins its jump and suddenly realizes that his hair isn't no longer attached to his scalp.  It was blowing away in the gallop induced wind.  Instinctively and perhaps a little vainly Adam reached up under this helmet to assess the damage as the horse's rear feet left the ground.

Adam is unprepared for the massive surge and is rocked in the saddle.  He grasps for the saddle horn in an attempt to at least make it over the barricade before he hits the ground, hard.  As he falls the only thing to cross his mind was "I hope it doesn't grow back curly."  Luckily, the barricade slides with Adam, cushioning his fall to some degree.  [-1 HP]  The spooked animal runs, trying to find a way to freedom.

The woman spins with her long sword.  The blade come down hard on the same zombie that Ioan's warhammer of divine righteousness.  Her strike finished what the hammer started.  A quick step takes her out of the range of some of the undead facing her.  It's obvious she's trying to put her back against a wall.  And then you notice... the building behind her (doors L6/7).... has lights on behind the shuttered windows.


(There is still a zombie at H8.)

[Ikoma]

Yemam tries to fire an arrow at the zombie in H4, but his arrow slips out of his hand as he releases the string.  Using a familiar zig-zag pattern Marius repositions, draws an arrows and lets it fly.  Unfortunately the flickering light in the door distracts him long enough to disrupt his aim, "Stupid shadows," he mutters annoyingly, "will this cursed night ever come to an end?"

Hassid watches as they fill the gap.  He had hoped to go to the rescue of the woman, but it looked as if Adam would succeed where he had failed.  Hassid renewed his assault on the abominations before him ensuring the safety of his comrades and eliminating the threats that would otherwise be at his back.  With two clean strokes, he drops another zombie.

The remaining zombies continue their assault.  The female warrior, Hassid & Adam all face the fetid claws still reeking of blood and gore.  The woman's nimble footwork got her out of the immediate range of many of the zombies... unfortunately, the one zombie she could not shake rips into her.  Leather straps holding armor to her back pop and the armor swings free.  Another couple blows like that would drop any one of you.  The zombie that attacks Hassid, scrabbles at his shield, nearly pushing past to get at the man behind.  Adam finds himself at the feet of a zombie who tries to pounce.  But the necromatic flesh fails and the monster stumbles over the refuse that forms the barricade.

Ioan dismounts, concentrates briefly, and moves his spiritual weapon to attack the next zombie.  The spectral hammer strikes true... if only lightly.

Adam picked himself off the ground and watched his horse run away.  With the back of his guantlet he wiped the dirt and blood from his face and removes most of his eyebrows in the process.  He grimaced and realized this wasn't going to end pretty.  Being inside the barricade he soon realized how out numbered he and the women were.  Hassid would be there soon, but they needed to even the odds.  Adam grasps his Symbol of The Tree and intones a chant to hasten the departure of the undead fiends around them.  He felt the power of The Father radiate from his body as his prayer had been answered.  One of the zombies turns and moves away.  He then quickly moves to protect the door.

The woman warrior yells, "The power of the Light will see us through.  Victory is assured!"  Her sword speaks just as loudly, slashing into another monster.


(The woman is at J8.  There is another zombie at J9.)

[Ikoma]

Yemam once again grabs an arrow and aims at an undead.  "This time...lets make the shot count."  Unfortunately, the arrow flies wide and strikes the well covering behind it.  Marius draws another arrow, but the stirring shadows are to much for his mind to handle.  He lets lose an arrow at the monster by the well, but his arrow barely makes it to the barricade in front of him.  He's lucky he didn't shot himself in the face.

Hassid watches as one of the Zombies moves away and now only has to face a single foe.  Spinning and dancing with his blade Hassid again places his blade in such a way that would have crippled the average man, he continued to strive to find a way to damage one such as an undead in the same way that he would a living creature.  It was an art, a morbid art, but one that Hassid had been training for for many years as a palace guard.  Though it was not until recently in the company of this particular group that the teachings began to make sense and come together.

Hassid does what he can to dispatch the abomination before him as one of the undead caught his attention, it moved in a different way than the others and at that moment Hassid knew that he would face the creature in battle.  As the abomination before him falls Hassid raises his blade level to the zombie that was different in an open challenge that was in most probability an empty gesture that might have only made him feel better painting his next opponent.  Then with a quick burst of speed, he charges up to the strange monster.

A split second before Hassid gets there, the monster moves to meet him.  Rather than trying to grab him - or bite him - it instead slams its body into his, trying to drive the man to the ground.  [-14 HP]  (REF save, DC 16 - failure means you get slammed under ground!  You'll be pinned.  Two successful grapple checks (same DC) get you back above ground.)

The other three zombies continue to press the mysterious woman.  One of them scratches her face deeply and blood begins to run down her face.

With just a flicker of concentration Ioan guides his spirit-hammer to again attack the strange zombie at H9.  He invokes "Cure Light Wounds" his hands faintly glowing with an infusion of the divine. Then he charges, headlong, to the aid of Adam and the woman... but this healing is not for them. It is for whatever that thing is at the back of the fray.  The thing is most definitely some kind of animated corpse.  One of the zombies tries in vain to grasp the cleric.  Instead, Ioan reaches out and puts his hand on the thing.  A blast of positive shakes grave dirt from the rotting flesh.  The things mouth, with lips rotted away, looks like a grotesque smile as the thing turns it's full attentions to Ioan.

Following the woman's example Adam bellows, "Fear, foul creatures, the power of the One and the Father.  They will win this night from you."    Adam was sure this would have no affect on the mindless zombies.  This cry was for the survivors within the lighted room.  They needed to know that others including the Father were here to protect them.  He swings his great sword at the nearest zombie and begins to sing a battle song from the Legion.

The woman shares a momentary glance at Adam.  One of gratitude and respect.  She does not stop swinging her weapon.  She hits again, carving away chunks of fleshs.


(The woman is at J8.  A zombie is at J9.)

[Ikoma]

Looking to the sky "Alright Locke...enough fooling around...we need to focus."  Yemam moves up in front of the barricade and aims at the one zombie staying away from the group.  The arrow seemed to hit.  And seemed to pass right through with no permanent effect.

Marius moves up to the barricade to get some cover, you never know he thinks to himself.  He draws an arrow and lets it fly once again at the monster in.  This time he manages to hit the wall in front of him.  The lights, shadows, and night have taken a toll on his jaded soul.  Marius can barely keep his hand still on his bow, his mind has cracked - this time in the midst of battle.  Luckily, Marius training makes sure that the arrow is not a threat to his companions.

The strange zombie turns it's attention to the cleric.  Whatever Hassid may be, whatever damage his blade may do, this thing knows divine power when it sees it.  And it cannot stand it.  Some deep necromantic influence, perhaps.  Whatever the reason, Ioan is the newest... and only target.  The thing wrapped its arms about the cleric, pushing him back.  Trying to pin him to the cobble stones beneath their feet.  [-13 HP]  (REF save, DC 16 - failure means you get slammed under ground!  You'll be pinned.  Two successful grapple checks (DC 20) get you back above ground.  BTW, in case its relevant, anyone can spend a standard action to cover for one of the two grapple checks.)

Hassid charged forward to meet the abomination and realized that his pride had almost cost him.  The creatures response to his charge was staggering and it was only long training being driven to the ground by a far superior fighter that kept Hassid from an awful fate.   Hassid managed to roll at the last moment turning what would have been a bad fall to regaining his feet, gaining just enough footing and spring forward and bring his blade to bare against the foul creature that was foolish enough to turn away from the warrior and focus on Ioan.  Hassid was not about to let the creature's change of focus go unpunished.  The first strike cut deeply, while the second missed.  But Hassid can see it.  The thing is weak and injured.

The three zombies still attacking tore into the woman warrior.  With a desperate scream, she pushes valiantly.  But they have gotten hold... all three.  And with a sickening slowness, her legs give way under the combined mass.  The screaming ends with a burst of crimson - someone must have gotten an artery.  (All three hit this round!  One with a critical!)

Ranged attacks were the way to go, at least in the warlock's mind. She moves up behind Hassid and blasts the one all most around the corner with her Eldritch magics.

Ioan (I'll hold this spot until I hear on your REF save.  If you pass, your action will lead off the next round and you'll still need to post another action.)

Adam (I imagine you might want a different action following the zombies murder of the woman.  So I'll let you post a new action for this round *and* an action for the next round.)


(Still a zombie at J9.)

[Ikoma]

Ioan again gives only the barest thought to his spirit-hammer, which is perhaps why the attack is so weak, as he barely dodges the attempt to take Ioan down into the ground.  Facing the horror before him, Ioan wisely invokes defensively, inviting no opportunistic attacks.  With his hands again energized, he reaches out and attempts to touch the animated corpse.

Adam watched the brave woman fall beneath the wreathing pile of stinking flesh, her body twisted and broken.  He felt her scream in his bones as they continued their assault.  Her blood felt hot on his face as her last moments of life flowed into the dusty street.  She looked into his face and mouthed, "May the Light be with you."  Adam nodded and formed the symbol of The Tree with his sword and hands.  "Go to the Father, the path has been tread and He awaits you."  Adam closed his eyes and remembered the countless deaths he'd seen.  Once again he tasted their fear, witnessed their trembling limbs, and saw the horror in their eyes as they realized this was the end.  Very few died as the warrior women did, with faith on her lips and courage in her eyes.  Adam realized that he should be enraged, eager for revenge.  He felt peace.  She had fought well and was destined for the Bosom of the Father.  She had found the path and traveled it well.  Adam hoped he would leave the world with such grace and dignity.  Waking from his brief reverie by the stench of the undead Adam remember the living behind the door.  He still needed to stop these monstrosities from reaching them.  He changed his battle hymn to a death dirge and renewed his attack on the zombies.  And one gets cut nearly in half.

"Hmmm...my arrows are doing nothing, the warrior woman we set out to help is fallen, and Ioan is being grabbed by these monsters. Locke...please tell me this night is almost over."  Realizing his arrows are not helping the fight, Yemam moves over to Ioan and helps the cleric out.

"Arrghh ... Enough of this.  If I told them once, I told them a hundred times.  You do not know who you're messin' with" Marius shouts angrily.  He draws an arrows, aligns the arrow, and waits for this shot ... "There!" with a twang of the bowstring the arrows sails at the thing, "Eat arrow you poor excuse for a modern day masterpiece," this time having no doubt the arrow found it's mark.  With a thunk, the arrow pierces the things skull, burrowing all the way through.  The entomber falls back, tumbling over the well as it's decaying body falls into the darkness.

The lone zombie cowers in the corner, huddled away from the combat.  With a low roll Hassid dives into where the once zombie stood and struck at one of the abominations that killed the female that Hassid had set out to help.  The first swing cuts deeply.  But a glimpse of the corpse if the woman warrior spoils the second swing.

The pair of zombies left in the fight turn in opposite directions.  One attacks Hassid, the other attacks Adam.  The zombie attacking Hassid fails to connect, slipping a bit on the body of the woman.  Unfortunately, the thing attacking Adam does better.  [-6 HP]  The holy warrior feels himself slipping away from blood loss (@ 0 HP) and a strange tickling sensation comes into his mind.  (FORT save, DC 13.  Also, you need stabilization rolls (10 on a d10) or you will loose 1 HP a round.)

"Nooo.." Lorelei's voice is shrill and filled with desperation as the fighting woman goes down. She had no ties to the woman they undead just tore apart, so she wasn't about to throw herself into immediate danger, but her heart went out to her valiant soul.  Moving up beside Hassid now, she blasts at the damned being that cowers from the fight.  (I don't have record of Lorelei being hit... so the DR hasn't come into play... yet.)

Ioan continues to concentrate on the hammer.  But something has pulled his intense will apart and the weapon swings listlessly and weak.

Adam totters on his feet, looking for all the world like a feather could knock him over.

[1](still a zombie at J9.)

[Ikoma]

Yemam sees Marius' shoot an arrow through the things skull "Good shot...as always."  Yemam moves in front of Ioan to attack the zombie that is attacking Adam.  "Way not pick on someone your own size, monster.  Adam...get out of here and heal."

Satisfied with his former shot, Marius draws another arrow hoping to fire before the rest of his comrades begin to move, limiting his opening.  He sees an opening between Ioan and the zombie in front of him and fires at it.  Yemam jumps in the way.  Luckily, Marius' skill let's him jerk the bow up just a hair to avoid putting an arrow into the back of his friend.

Looking at Adams wounds he turns his words to the zombie, "Hey meatball.  Get away from him!"

Hassid watches Adam stagger and dives in to protect him.  Pulling the blade close to him in a backward grip he jumped past Ioan and what would almost be considered through the Zombie.  And though Hassid did not touch the corrupted thing with his body the force of the body flying and the training that Hassid had received caused a large gash to slice down the chest of the beast.  As Hassid touched the ground he quickly rolled to his feet nimbly dodging the swinging claw of the zombie laying in wait, finally coming to rest between Adam and danger.  Meanwhile the zombie he passed is falling, sliced neatly into two.  (AWESOME attack.  And I'm fine with cinematically interpreting the rules.  You can tumble and attack.  Why not do both at the same time?)

As a reward, Hassid becomes the target of attack for the last zombie still in the fight.  The monster almost strikes him, its claws skittering across his armor.

Glad to see his grappler fall beneath Hassid's onslaught, Ioan shifts just out of reach of the nearest zombies, then reaches out and invokes Cure Moderate Wounds (2d8+6=13) upon Adam.  With a grunt of dissatisfaction ("I can do better than THAT") he then turns his thought to his spirit hammer, which connects solidly with the nearest zombie.

The zombie's attack hurt.  It brought tears to his eyes and caused him to inhale sharply.  It was difficult to grasp his great sword as Adam could feel blood running down his arms from multiple cuts.  It was pooling in his boots as it freely cascaded down his chest and legs.  He was fairly certain several fingers were broken and his left shoulder was dislocated from falling off his horse.  He knew he was finished unless his friends could provide help.  He smiled to himself as he felt the movement toward him as his friends came to his aid.  He shuddered as Ioan's healing brought him back to life.  He thanked the Father for friends such as Hassid and Yeman that would place themselves in danger to protect them.  He vowed to call a zombie a "meatball" the next time he had a chance.  He would not die today.  His friends made sure of that.   Following Yeman's advise Adam takes a 5' step and casts Cure Light Wounds.

((I'm gonna DM fiat the last round.  There is one mostly down zombie that would go down under a pair of attacks from Yemam and Marius before it get's act in the Initiative order.  Hassid can mop up the zombie cowering as a result of Adam's Turning Attempt.  Go ahead and move posts back to the main story thread.  And I promise... we are done with combat for the day.  You've reached a safe place.  But I make no promises that the village of Barovia is clear!    

Oh, and I still don't have a 7^th level character sheet for Ioan or Yemam.))

[unkabear]

Hassid | Town Square | 31/72HP | Random Roll = 10

Hassid walks back from finishing off the zombie that had been trying to flee.  He cleaned his blade with the rags from one of the fallen creatures from earlier.  He approaches the fallen woman tenderly and knelt by her side.  She fell fighting the undead and for that she deserved better than their fate.   Hassid looks to the others to see if there was something that they could do to save her, or if she had passed beyond the veil and he would need to remove her head or whatever they did in this land to keep their dead from raising again.




(ooc Hassid will staunchly refuse healing from anyone as others need it more in his opinion)

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan looks up as Hassid approaches. "She's gone." He looks around at his friends. "She's gone, and unless we want her comin' back as one o' them, we need to get her outta the street."

"An' we need to get indoors ourselves. There's others in there, hidin' from the dead. We need t' meet 'em, break the bad news. An' then maybe get some rest."

[Marius Ionescu]

Marius runs to his friends, "thank the gods you're all alive.  I've never seen so many things from beyond in one place."  Nervously looking to the shadows, "what gives?" 

Marius, attempts to shake the feeling from his mind.  He distracts himself and sees if he can recover any arrows, running quickly so as to get back to the group.

Marius gets back to the group just in time to hear Ioan speak, "O...o...o...others," his eyes fill with fear.  "Maybe we shouldn't disarm just yet.  It's more ... more of those things I tell you."  His mind overcome with fear prevents him from saying anything else.

Recover arrow#1=83, arrow#2=85, arrow#3=34, arrow#4=44, arrow#5=64, arrow#6=33, arrow#7=81

(ooc: looks like I get 3 back ... yeah)

[Yemam Silverman]

Yemam looks up to the sky. "Thanks for keeping an eye out."

Resonding to Ioan; "Lets see what those lights are...I'll knock and see if they will let us in."

Yemam walks over to the door which had lights on and knocks.  "Good people...we need shelter for the night to be away from these foul creatures. Please let us in."

Diplomacy = 14

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

Ioan smiles at Marius. His teeth are at least three different colors, and one of them is broken, but it's a comforting smile nonetheless. "It's going to be okay," he says. And then he invokes "Calm Emotions," suppressing all fear effects within a hundred and seventy feet (including the people hiding inside, if they're in range.)

"Now, let's collect our horses. Hassid... can you find a way to make them safe tonight?"

[Ioan Nicolae Costache]

(OOC: I have 5hp worth of "cure minor," one "cure light" (1d8+5), one "cure moderate" (2d8+6) and one "cure serious" (3d8+6) coming to me tonight. If you need healing, say something to Ioan and he'll oblige. (ESPECIALLY ADAM.))

[Adam Godson]

Adam kneels in the street after Hassid dispatches the last zombie.  He leans against his greatsword allowing his head to hang and offers a silent prayer of thanks to the Father for seeing them through the night. 

He is spent physically, spiritually and mentally.  He and the whole party needed rest and healing.  He arises and walks toward Ioan and Hassid as they discuss options.  He verbally agrees with Ioan that they need to get inside and the best location would be in the building were other were apparently staying.  They would still need protection as their current champion lay dead at their feet. 

Adam gently lifts the broken body and cradles it in his arms.  He struggles toward the door where Yeman is asking for entry.  Adam adds, "We offer The Father's protection and care.  If there are any that are injured or sick inside we can help.  Our presence will make the night less dark and your fire brighter.  We come from the summons sent by Kolyan Indirovich"

Glancing back at Ioan he motions him forward,  "Come brother, we have a body to prepare for last rites.  She deserves the best we have to offer." 

As Ioan approaches Adam asks for some healing only after others have been taken care of.   

[unkabear]

Hassid looks to the others and nods to Ioan.  "I will see to the horses as best I can." before lifting himself into the saddle to retrieve Adams horse.  She shouldn't have gone far, but Hassid prepares for a daring flight if there are more of these things about on the chase.  "I will be back before long, and worry not, I will not linger to fight if I can avoid it." he says before guiding StarDancer in the direction that Adam's horse went.