Opal-Mancy

Log Info

• Title: Opal-Mancy
• Emitter: Whirlpool
• Characters: Arion, Harkashan, Huian, Jacob, Lucius, Ous
• Place: The Felwood
• Time: April 10th, 2023
• Summary: On a mission exploring an area of the Felwood for clues about possible origins of the mysterious black opals, the adventurers experience a gruesome sight, a pitched battle, and finally, a terrifying presence.

Brave heroes, one and all, assembled at the Felwood station. It's growing swiftly from the mere pavillion tent that were there before. Now, slightly more stable and permanent structures are being built, the defensive pallisade has been strengthened and is undergoing additional expansion. Elves from the Mythwood and Alexandrian soldiers and civilians, regular and irregular like yourselves, are all busy here.

Now, you've a mission: step into the FElwood itself, and search for any potential clues as to where these strange opals might have come from by travelling deeper into the cursed woods than before.

Prior to being sent out, Huian was performing a meditative routine. It is a combination of sword-training techniques, and graceful dance moves done in slow motion. Why slow? Simple. It is more difficult to hold a posture of extension in slow motion, than at full speed.

But after a half hour of that, she finished, downed a good amount of water, and dressed in her light armor and adventuring gear before assembling with the others at the edge of the camp. Like usual, she generally avoids being a Chatty Cathy sort... preferring to remain silent unless there is a need to communicate anything important. But as others gather, she merely stands waiting, her hair tied back to keep it out of the way.

To Harkashan, this is the first time to the Felwood station. He's heard strange things have been afoot here, but for the most part, the place is a rather heavy unknown to him. Yet, that hasn't stopped him from attending to matters here.

Considering the pallisades that are to this very moment undergoing expansion, he judges this place must be either prosperous, or of notable military significance.

The matter of the opals is still somewhat new to him, so as the crew gathers to travel into the cursed woods, he does take a moment to inquire for <details> on the opals - so he might know what he's keeping an eye out for.

The crimson Sith-makar, light playing over his scales constantly making him seem like his very presence might set some of the forest ablaze, also notes some familiar faces. As such, he moves with Jacob in particular here to perhaps get some of this information.

Ous had been spending more time out this way after recent meetings in town. Having been on a previous mission where one of the opals had been found, the ranger nodded quietly, he knew the drill. Seeing some of the others gathered, the ranger nods to those he knows. "Aye'm ready tae go when ye lot are." the large Aesir's accent not really belying a single origin, but a mashing of various dialects mashed together into whatever it was that Ous spoke.

Arion steps up to join the group entering the Felwood with an air that smells of new paladin: a blend of soap, incense, and mail-polish. The sun glints brightly off that mail as he takes his place and offers a friendly nod to those gathered. "Hello!" It's a cheerful baritone, robust and hale, and finished with an awkward, if well-intentioned wave.

Among the brave heroes gathered here today is Jacob Ben-Hassid. Dressed in his armor and wielding his shield in one hand and his lance in the other, he takes measure of everyone that was there. Harkashan gets a near immediate smile and a bow towards him, happy to walk alongside the Sith-Makar as his eyes traverse his surroundings.

"Never much liked the Felwood...the opals are a curious thing, one I hope we learn more of tonight, but...we should be prepared for this cursed wood to live up to its namesake."

"Well met." Harkashan bits Arion, who seems so very cheerful. It isn't like Harkashan is particularly grave. In fact, for a Deathsinger - one of the Vardama - he might practically be a hoot; as such, he greets with warmth and sincerity.

Then, since there are some who do not know he, he introduces himself; "Deathsinger Harkashan." A simple and to the point kind of introduction, as he slowly draws out his intricately colored Khopesh.

Then, to Jacob; "A curious thing? So you are familiar with them. What more can you tell of them?"

Tlanexhuani has only heard rumors of this Fell Wood and the goings on there. The new and growing fortifications are a sign of something. Something bad, or something getting better? The bluescale has heard snippets of both. Now they could be part of making bad to better, which suits him just fine.

As they move into the woods proper, him hunched forward and using his spear as walking stave, Tlanexhuani eyes the foliage. "Iss not jungle, ssa, but could be as dangerous."

The socialization aspect of things makes Huian nod her head. She presses right fits to left palm and introduces herself, "I am Cai Huian. Swordswoman of the Cai School." She bows her head and then looks to the others. "I've no magic but my wits and my blade."

"Sunblade Arion Livredor," the cheerful paladin replies, bowing his head from the neck to the Sith-Makar and the Human Swordswoman. The words of the latter make his mouth twist into a curious smile. "There is great magic in wit, I find." That said, he quiets, listening intently as the question about the opals is put to Jacob.

Amidst the group of adventurers, Lucius sits mounted atop Thunder, his ever loyal steed. The cavalier's gaze wanders restlessly between the Felwood, the group of adventurers, the encampment, and back again to the Felwood. He returns Arion's greeting with a friendly smile and wave. "I'm Lucius," he offers as introduction. "The Felwood can be dangerous indeed." He blinks and cuts off abruptly, as if his train of thought had been snapped in half. "Uh, we should be safe enough as a group."

Turning dark eyes towards Arion, Huian offers a little grin. She is conservative with expression of emotion in general. But then she turns that gaze towards the forest itself. That done, she spends a few moments contemplating the forest before she nods her head, reaches for her thin-bladed sword to draw it and she begins moving towards the forest. Not one to jabberjaw about stuff when there is work to do.

Carver has her hood up, bundled as if it was cold. Or she has convinced herself that the Felwood would have Felpoison Ivy and one touch to her ruddy skin would have her pecked and potted like a well-used witch's cooking cauldron. She, like Lucius, is astride a mare but where his is clearly a beast of strength? Her's is spotted and light of foot, playful. Maliciously so. Carver rips with her teeth at a piece of jerky and doesn't bother introducing herself. She doesn't have any cool titles and it really bugs her when EVERYONE ELSE DOES.

Moving with the others, Ous nods to Huian and offers a cheerful smile. "It's ok. Aye've got axes. an' a Bow. Magic is handy, but no always needed. Aye'm Ous. No fancy titles an' no schools, just Ous." Once out of the confines of the camp with the others, the big Aesir begins to range ahead, cating for sign.

Carver smiles at Ous. Welcome to the No-Title Squad, Buddy!

"I wish." Jacob remarks to Harkashan. "But I'm afraid I know no more about the opals and their origin than the next adventurer." Jacob starts, before he shrugs. "All I know is that it seems to be found in these woods...and it will take all of us to be able to get through it unscathed. I fear the opals dark in their origin."

He turns to Tlanexhuani. "Exactly."

He smiles softly to the paladin. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, sunblade. I'm Vangaurd Jacob Ben-Hassid." A servant of Serriel. "Nowhere safer than with a group."

You've been given an area on a grid map to explore. You are warned that the maps are ... not ... so accurate. It's not that it ought to be fully relied on. The Felwood is a cursed wood and more than one group has come back sayin their maps and their compasses were ... less than reliable.

Explore this area, report back if you find anything unusual, and especially if you find any of the black opal gems that they're keeping an eye out for. That's the whole point of this: track the and find their source, if you can.

Soon, you're descending into the woods proper, and indeed, the trees grow thicker and taller. The atmosphere? Darker.

Much darker. The ambience begins to bestow a certain chill.

Still ranging a bit ahead of the majority of the group, Ous continues casting for sign as they move deeper into the woods. "Keep yer eyes up. last time Aye were here, a nasty one traied tae land on me skull."

The comments of the maps not being right makes Huian think that it's not the maps, it's the wood changing so that the map may have once -been- accurate, but that's just not the case any longer. Sword in hand, buckler strapped to her off wrist... Huian keeps her eyes moving about to try to avoid being taken by surprise. She's not in charge. She doesn't need to speak right now. She is just doing her best to keep her awareness up.

The Sunblade seems to find pleasure in the presence of a cleric, his smile as radiant as Daeus' sun itself. "It is good to be in your company, Vanguard. And under the watchful eye of The Guiding Star," Arion adds to Jacob as the group sets off into the wood. As the trees close around him, he finds himself walking not far from Lucius, as if he takes some comfort from the presence of the trusty steed the cavalier rides amidst the gloom. Perhaps to combat deteriorating light and warmth, the paladin begins to hum a soft, jaunty little tune, the music a pleasant counterpoint to the darkening wood. The words from Ous, however, make the tune die on his lips, his eyes peering intently into the shadows that surround them as they walk.

As they descend into the woods, and it starts getting darker and darker, it isn't long before Harkashan's lights amongst the dark. The red center core of his Khopesh giving off almost flame-like flecks as the magical light begins to play across its body. Giving them at least one beacon amongst the dark to hold out.

Lucius himself remains uncharacteristically quiet as the party proceeds deeper into the Felwood, the knuckles on his right hand whitening as the fingers clench tighter around his steel lance. As Harkashan illuminates their surroundings, Lucius inhales sharply and has to stifle a gasp. Sensing his rider's agitation, Thunder jerks to the side, colliding with the paladin. "My apologies, Arion!" Lucius takes a deep breath, wide-eyed. "Good grief," he murmurs to himself, slumping forward slightly in his saddle. "Sorry about that, Thunder. Not your fault," he murmurs to the warhorse, who quickly flicks an ear in response.

GAME: Huian rolls perception: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Lucius rolls Perception: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Arion rolls perception: (8)+2: 10
GAME: Ous rolls perception: (18)+2: 20
GAME: Jacob rolls Perception: (14)+5: 19
GAME: Harkashan rolls Perception: (3)+4: 7

Arion staggers to the side as Thunder bumps his shoulder, catching himself with one hand against the rough trunk of one of the dark trees that line their way. His face holds a rueful grin. "No apology necessary," the paladin says, blithely unaware of the potential danger that surrounds the group. "That's what I get for being his neighhhhh-bor."

Darkness is growing, that's for sure. The shadows of the tall trees fall on you.

Wildlife is present, but it's not exactly abundant. It's too quiet by half, as if everything is fleeing from you, or has already fled. Still, you see the signs of it en route.

Soon, it's quiet enough that all that you can hear are the sounds you bring with you.

Brown eyes narrowing, Huian keeps her mouth shut. She breathes in a controlled manner through the nose. Her father taught her that breath control is one of the most important things. That if you let your fear take control, you will start breathing more heavily, and lose your wind faster.

So she advances with the rest of the party, keeping the majority of her attention and focus on her flank of the perimeter. But letting her peripheral vision keep her party members in sight. If only so that the forest does not warp her away on her own.

Still moving ahead of the rest of the group, Ous isn't so far away that he cannot be seen. Kneeling down for a moment, the Ranger takes in his surroundings staring into the darkness as he tries to shake the feeling of being watched. turning his head to look back at the group, the ranger thinks the netter of looking into a light source, shrugs and begins moving forward once more.

The Death-singer is having trouble seeing quite as well as some others, as the light of his blade is casting a subtle glare that is harder to deal with in this kind of dark. As such, as they get closer, he touches one of the many lavastones that are laced into his armor, and speaks some words in Draconic, before his senses expand, seeing evil ahead. Constantly shifting that region of sensing ahead, while remaining closer to the center of the party. But enough to the forefront that the vanguard could be forewarned.

Lucius suddenly stands up in his saddle. "We're not alone," he announces to the group, his gaze flickering from one side of the forest to the other. "Something is watching us." He eases the shield on his left shoulder into position, his eyes still finding nothing but darkness surrounding, except where illuminated by Harkashan's light.

GAME: Harkashan rolls Will: (20)+8: 28 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)

Jacob stays where he is along the group's flank, eyes searching and sharp. He doesn't understand Harkashan's words as he doesn't speak draconic, but he does seem to be preparing some of his magic, inhaling slowly as the divine magicks replenish in him. "Serriel guide us..." He hears that Lucius announce that they're not alone and his eyes narrow.

"..damn."

There is a soft sighing sound as Arion deftly draws the greatsword from its place on his back, the metal dull in the dim light of the wood. Any humor lingering from his pun has evaporated with the words and actions of his companions, and his senses strain against the dampening confines of the forest and the sound of his own heartbeat.

GAME: Harkashan rolls Knowledge/Religion: (2)+5: 7

There's a sense of a tremmor that proceeds to overcome Harkashan. That ever-present growl that eminates from deep within his chest grows louder and more agitated in a moment. This subtle grasp for his chest, gritting his maw. There's the sound of gnashing teeth for a moment, before he lets go of this deep held breath. An exhale that clearly shows a stress being released. "This entire place is evil..." He grunts at Jacob, whom he expects to understand such a statement at first. Ambient malice everywhere - making it hard to get any useful reading on anything ahead.

You're not the only adventurer band out here.

You're really not. You saw them at the camp, and you had to know that there are others in the woods going to different points than you.

Different points. They're not supposed to be /here/, and yet, you now see the signs of them. Bootprints on the ground, snags of clothing in the brambles.

Are you crossing paths with someone?

The answer is yes, at least, and you seem to be catching up wit hthem.

What seems to be, and what truly is... well, those are not necessarily the same thing in places such as these. Huian spots pieces of cloth, a bootprint here and there. She points them out with the tip of her sword, but she remains on guard. She understands the nature of deception and it's importance in combat and warfare.

Still not speaking, she doesn't want to make extraneous noise when she can spend her efforts listening for others doing so.

Keeping the light to his Back, Ous contunes checking the path ahead. Coming across tracks of other adventurers, the ranger frowns, then shrugs. Pausing at one set of tracks, he quietly slips the unstrung bow from his back and various pieces of leather string of different colors. MEasurements are made on the tracks. length of the foot, width of the foot, these are marked on the bow with different pieces of leather of different colors. Careful not to touch the tracks themselves, the big Aesir places the tip of the longbow next to the back edge of the heel and he slowly moves the bow across the ground, pivoting it in place until he finds the next track. another piece of leather string is tied at that marking too to measure stride. This done, Ous starts moving once more. quietly he calls back. "Eyes peeled. some'at weird about this other group. They're either lost or tryin' tae make us think they are."

"Perhaps an enemy might be attempting to lure us into a trap," Lucius suggests. "Indeed let us remain on our guard. It's really only a matter of time until we get to the bottom of this." As Thunder plods forward, Lucius himself remains ever vigilant as he holds lance and shield both at ready position and continues sweeping the dim surroundings with his gaze.

"Or perhaps we should call out, let them know we're here," Arion offers a counterpoint, giving a quick glance to his nearby companions. "No sense surprising allies who might be on edge in a dark and evil wood." Harkashan's words have been enough to make him resist his own urge to cast out seeking for evil, but his teeth grind with the effort of it when he closes his mouth once more.

"Evil?" Jacob reacts to Harkashan with a serious gleam in his eyes. "I understand. Whatever powers may lie here....I don't trust it. We ought not to tsay..."

Though at different points, there are bootprints on the ground. Clothing in shambles. Some person turned beast? Did a beast come and claim them from the world?

"I do believe we are no longer the hunters...instead, we have become the prey." He rolls his shoulder. "We can spring the trap...attempt to leave one thing alive, if it's capable of speech, to answer our questions."

...and there they are.

You do come upon them after a short, guarded walk. You were right about coming up on them soon enough.

Of course, they're not going anywhere. This is mostly because the handful of Alexandrian irregulars are quite dead -- speared on the thick tree branches, hanging from them with their bodies grotesquetly on display. The wounds on their bodies are grievous. Splits in their armor punching straight through, entrails hanging free from their bellies in some cases. Eyes missing, skulls cleaved open.

It's incredibly violent, and incredibly very much on display.

Mentally, Huian retreats from this. She's never seen such brutality, such vile violations of the body. She stares for a long moment, her brain basically acting like an old vinyl record with a scratch.. skipping a bit. But after a few seconds, she closes her eyes with great difficulty and then turns away to open them and look elsewhere.

She has one thought... that she must acquire proof of the identities of the dead, if only to provide closure for their families. But that can come later. Right now, it seems that she might need to work hard to avoid becoming grotesque artwork herself.

Considering Arion's words for a moment, Ous scratches his chin under his beard As Jacob mentions being prey instead of being the hunters, then mentions springing any traps that may be in place the ranger grins speaking quietly to himself about 20 feet ahead of the group. "This lot are mad! It do sound like fun though."

this thought dies off though as the ranger comes on the scene of the dead party. Pausing, he calls back "Ne'er mind. this lot are dead." His voice sounded wooden. Though he doesn't linger on the bodies. concentrating on the story the ground had to tell as he absently stripped the markers rom his bow and replaced the weapon on his back.

Arion stops dead in his tracks when the bodies come into view, his face a war of emotions: surprise, anger, sorrow. It is determination that wins out in the end, however, and the paladin's jaw is set firmly as he moves toward the nearest body, determined to pull it from its place of unholy display, or to cut it down if necessary. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, before he adds muscle to his grisly task.

With the warning of others indeed comes the wariness of the Sith-makar. Already are they in a forest of evil - an everypresent and omnipresent evil - now they're following in the footsteps of the lost or the hunter. He isn't picking up on some of what the others are noticing, but their words are being taken at face value.

So, when they finally find the previous party that went before them, hung and on display, Harkashan remarks; "Not too unlike the Charn, seeking to distract my Kin. This gruesome sight might be a distraction from the periphery. Be on the lookout." As that light of his blade shines a bit brighter, and a pulse of grey-white light ripples through the air for a moment, steeling peoples' resolves ever so slightly, and enhancing their senses.

That it's a distracton is correct. Briefly, through the trees, you see something. It's like trees almost part for a half second revealing a distant spire amongst them with elaborate golden gilding covered in ivy.

.. but you're not sure. It was just there for a half-second and then before the trees discharge the dead, allowing them to slide off the branches ... and begin to rise.

Seeing the bodies, Jacob slows to a stop.

Rather than find himself in disgust, Jacob's jaw clenches tight and he looks at thte display with anger in his eyes. Turning his eyes to Arion, Jacob nods and he approaches to help remove the bodies from where they were displayed. This kind of darkness must not come to pass. "I wasn't mad..." Jacob tells Ous. "But now I am. No one should meet their end like this."

Harkashan's words that these are like the Charn gets a nod. "Yes...something feels scared enough to leave a warning. The only shame is that it chose to feed the beast's urges.

Then there's a distant figure...and the dead start to rise!

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Harkashan rolls 2d6: (6): 6

Undead. Upon the day that Harkashan did not prepare appropiate anti-undead spells. A must regretful decision on the Deathsinger's part. Yet, the song begins. A deep droning coming from the Sith-makar as his blade begins to shine brighter...

Pulse after pulse, almost like a 'ring of flame' eminates from him, pushing into each Undead's body as they dare to get close to him. Almost as if Harkashan's very presence were rejecting him.

Those familiar with Draconic might notice the sorrow of the song that Harkashan sings. It's a somber dirge for the dead. His voice constantly dipping into deep valleys of tone.

GAME: Huian rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10

As soon as things begin to move, Huian does so as well. She already had herself armed for combat, and so she twists, sidestepping and then plants a foot to thrust with her blade. Sadly, there's literally no meat or bone where she thrusts... it's been eaten away by the tree branch. She literally stabs the hole the branch made.

Cursing herself silently, she draws back her weapon to defend herself with it.

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+2: (12)+2: 14
GAME: Jacob rolls 2d6: (7): 7

As the dead start to rise, Jacob narrows his eyes.

"Abomination of life."

And following Harkashan's lead, a brilliant light suddenly comes out in a wave from the Cleric, sending wave after wave of holy light to his surroundings, pushing the ring of flame forward to each of the undead. Maybe it's enough...

But the dead are notoriously stubborn.

He enters a defensive stance, ready for battle.

GAME: Lucius rolls melee+4+1: (7)+7+4+1: 19
GAME: Lucius rolls lance+lance: aliased to 1d8+Strength+1d8+Strength: (2)+3+(6)+3: 14

Lucius' eyes widen for just a moment before he recovers from the brief distraction. At his rider's urging, Thunder springs into motion as the tip of the lance snaps to horizontal. Cavalier and horse ram into the target as one, and the lance shears through the undead's eye socket through the back of its head. "One down," Lucius mutters, bracing himself for the onslaught of the remaining enemies.

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (6)+8: 14
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22

Lucius is very impressive, what, with the dead being re-deaded by his lance.

Unfortunately, this also means they move in on him, swords drawn. They remember just enough to be more deadly than perhaps your typical zombie is -- which is really bad enough to begin with. They mob him, swinging blades with cutting ferocity and brute, deathly power.

It works, somewhat. Lucius is left wounded.

GAME: Ous rolls weapon11-1: (19)+9+-1: 27
GAME: Ous rolls weapon1-1: (20)+7+-1: 26 (THREAT)
GAME: Ous rolls weapon1-1: (6)+7+-1: 12
GAME: Ous rolls damage11: aliased to 1d8+5: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Ous rolls damage1: aliased to 1d6+4: (1)+4: 5

Having been watching the ground, Ous was half knelt when the Zombies had attacked. As people and horses rush forth, the ranger spins quickly. Axes slipping from his belt into his hands, Ous snarls at the former adventurer, the smaller bearded Hand Axe biting into the zombie's neck as the larger head of the battle axe comes in from the other side, acting as a shear to shorten the creature by a head, the ranger is already turning towards his next target

GAME: Arion rolls melee + 4 + 1 - 1: (14)+5+4+1+- 1: 25
GAME: Arion rolls 2d6 + strength + 4 + 3: (7)+3+4+3: 17

Arion was prepared for a grim task, but that task suddenly becomes an entirely different one when the body he is trying to remove from it's arboreal crucifixion becomes animated with un-life. The sympathy so recently suffusing his youthful features is replaced abruptly with sharp disgust, and he steps back, taking his sword in both hands. "Sun Lord guide them to true rest," he intones softly. Then, with a cry, he brings the blade up and around in a terrible arc. There is a sickening sound as the weapon shears through the body that was so recently living. "Sleep, brother."

<OOC> Harkashan says, "I will convert a level 2 spell"
GAME: Harkashan casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Harkashan rolls weapon0+1: (12)+4+1: 17
GAME: Harkashan rolls 2d8+8: (7)+8: 15

The battle quickly starts shifting with a focus on Lucius upon his mighty steed. And while Harkashan in that moment considers healing the man, there is something to be said about his task as a Deathsinger. That heavy low rumbling chanting growing louder as the armored Sith-makar approaches the undead and maneuvers to step side-by-side with the man's steed and reaches one hand out towards the Undead. Grabbing its head...

His song growing louder in that moment, the symbolf of the Death Singing Dragon engraving upon its head, burning bright with pale flame. A light bursting from its orifices, until the creature falls to the ground, fumes burning from its former sockets.

Harkashan's song continues to grow upon the battlefield.

GAME: Huian rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23
GAME: Huian rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6

With the swarm moving in on Lucius, Huian eyes the group for a quick moment. A foot plants on a fallen tree and she leaps over the rump of Thunder before coming down to land behind one of the undead.

ON her way down, her blade flashes out, and stabs through the spine of one of the Zombies. A flashing stab that withdraws itself a moment later, the blade still moving about to keep herself safe.

GAME: Jacob casts Spiritual Weapon. Caster Level: 4 DC: 15

GAME: Lucius rolls melee+1: (4)+7+1: 12
GAME: Lucius rolls hooves: aliased to 1d20+3: (3)+3: 6

Lucius had raised his shield in defense, but hardly anything could have fully prepared him to meet the ensuing bladestorm. Blinking away the pain, the cavalier watches gratefully as allies come to his aid, cutting down most of the remaining zombies. His lance stabs toward the nearest undead, and Thunder lashes out with his hooves for good measure, but both attacks miss wide of their marks. Lucius grimaces again, this time not from pain, as words of self-reprimand form across his lips.

GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d20+8: (8)+8: 16
GAME: Whirlpool rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7

Lucius is forgotten for a moment. Only two of them remain active, and each takes a swing with their blade. The soldiers wthey were were proficient enough that they remain deadly in freshly-dead states, but that's not likely to last ... given how quickly their numbers have thinned.

GAME: Ous rolls weapon11-1: (17)+9+-1: 25
GAME: Ous rolls weapon1-1: (16)+7+-1: 22
GAME: Ous rolls damage11: aliased to 1d8+5: (1)+5: 6
GAME: Ous rolls damage1: aliased to 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6

Seeing Lucius being mobbed by zombies, Ous Ducks past an errant hoof the size of his head, grinning up at the Chevalier in the process, the ranger slips under the guard of one of the zombies, stepping past the creature slightly, he sinks the beards of both axes into the creatures shoulders and drags it backwards trying to give the cavalry man some space to breathe. "If ye're gonna get killed Donkey-Walloper, Would ye mind takin' yer Armor off first? No that Aye want ye tae die! but Aye dinnae want tae fight an undead you wit' that much protection on ye either!" Offering the man a wink with one of those wild emerald eyes, the ranger lets his victim drop and turns to the last of the zombies

GAME: Arion rolls melee + 1: (9)+5+1: 15
GAME: Arion rolls 2d6 + strength: (3)+3: 6

Ous' view of the last zombie target is interrupted briefly by the flash of a blade...Arion's sword cutting a quick arc down and across the breast of what once was an upstanding soldier. It leaves a deep gash, but does not drop the now-walking corpse. Arion grimly prepares for another strike.

GAME: Harkashan casts Hold Person. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
<OOC> Harkashan says, "Cure Moderate Wound"
GAME: Harkashan rolls melee0+1: (14)+melee0+1: 15
GAME: Harkashan rolls 2d8+8: (5)+8: 13

As Arion seeks to finish one of the Undead, Harkashan moves with him. The blade cuts true, leaving that gash. The zombie seeking to swipe at its foe. Only for Harkashan to grab its arm as it seeks to move to Arian and holds it firm. "A fine swing." He growls to Arion with appreciation, as another burst of flame-like burst bursts from his hand. A glow that rapidly cascades through the undead body, searing its body from the inside. That droning song reaching a finale as the undead glows for a moment, then falls to the ground.

...The undead are gone.

But why does that omnipresent feeling of being observed feel even worse?

.. oh, hey. Look. Behond the trees you were seeing is that spire, yes, you're sure of it now ... but something else, too. A great thundering crunching tearing grinding sound as a great tree seemingly lifts itself above the others ...

... and begins to come your way.

"Thank you, friend," Arion says, panting, to Harkashan. "The Gods watch us and give many gifts, but the best of those gifts are our comrades." The point of his sword dropping to the ground, he kneels before the weapon and bows his head in gratitude. After a long moment, his gaze lifts and he regards the bodies. "Best to burn them so the evil in this forest may not reclaim them." He sighs. "I'll see what personal effects I can find for their fam--" He breaks off at the tearing sound, staggering back and pulling his sword from the ground. "Daeus protect."

... and with that, the decision is made to get the hekc outta here, once identifying markers can be collected from the dead. Run away? Yeah. You've got useful information to share.