Rise of the Runelords [The Skinsaw Murders] (IC)

[rypt]

Muttering to himself as Draegra moves forward, Al maintains his rearguard position, more concerned about the ghouls he cannot see than the ones he can. Although he has a bow he could use to fire upon the latest pair, he does not draw it. Doing so, he believes, would leave their flank exposed.

[lostsole31]

With the second toss, Steingott shreds and destroys the ghoul (and its bindings). The other one still struggles.

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott hurls an earth chunk at the other ghoul still struggling on the stake.

Spoiler: action

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(1d20+8)[27] to hit

(2d6+8)[14] dmg

[lostsole31]

Steingott's blast seriously wounds the scarecrow, who helplessly fumbles with their bindings.

[DrK]

Draegra

Watching carefuly Dragera still moves cautiously towards the house at the end of the path, smiling grimly as Steingott destroys the ghoul. "Nice when they hold still, very obliging of them." Glancing at the soldiers he snaps a quick "Eyes sharp" as they walk.

[lostsole31]

Does Steingott leave the struggling one, or keep up with the formation which is now continuing along the road?

What about anyone else?

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott keeps his eyes forward and shouts back to the party.

"I don't know much about ghouls, but should we be concerned the ones free of their bindings haven't come out of the corn and attacked? We're shouting,
we carry torches. Some idiot, I don't who, very loudly gathered elemental energy. It can't be that they can't see us. Should we just be moving forward like this?"

He then hurls another chunk at the fumbling ghoul.

Spoiler: action

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[roll]1d20+8[/roll] to hit
[roll]2d6+8[/roll] dmg

[lostsole31]

Steingott destroys the second ghoul with his shot.

The Corporal mentions, "Something just doesn't feel right about all this. What with ghouls being propped up as scarecrows to act more as target practice than dangers."

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott turns his head and shouts back to the Corporal.

"It doesn't feel right to me either.

I say we make a rush towards the house, or we sit here and wait for an ambush. Neither sounds like the right idea, but we need to get out of this situation where we're running blind with these cornfields on either side. Anyone with me?"

[rypt]

Al continues to follow along with the others. At the the corporal's concern and Steingott's reply, Al echoes a similar sentiment. "Either these ghouls were never meant to be a threat or there are a hell of a lot more of them out there. Either way, we need to get clear of these fields."

[lostsole31]

The group, still going mostly westerly, gets to a junction to the right (NE). According to the guards, you can just follow the west-now-slowly-heading north path to get to the house quickest, and the path heading NE isn't a main walking path they know of, but one for tending the farm most likely.

Which way do you go?

[DrK]

Draegra

Draegra nods at the dwarf’s wise words. ”I agree Steingott, the ghouls are preparing a trap. If we can get to the house we can use that as a strongpoint.” He looks to the guards and then nods to the path that leads directly to the house

“”Shall we move out and head to that farm house with some haste?”

[lostsole31]

The group doesn't go far before another crossroads. As the main path continues now NW, there is a split branch coming in at an angle from the west. Just south of that western road is, you guessed it, a scarecrow.

It is roughly 20' into the field, as normal. What do you do?

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott gathers up another chunk of earth and sends it hurling towards the new scarecrow.

Spoiler: action

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(1d20+8)[16] to hit

(2d6+8)[17] dmg

[rypt]

As they come upon another scarecrow, Al is struck by a sudden and disturbing thought. "Steingott, wait!" he calls out as the dwarf prepares another earthen projectile. "What if not all the scarecrows are ghouls? Whoever did this, couldn't they have just have easily tied up some of the farmers?"

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott throws the earth wild to avoid the scarecrow.

"You're right, Al, this is too easy. If not decoys they might be trying to get us to shred the bindings.
If we're all ready, let's make a break to the farmhouse."

[lostsole31]

The earth misses the scarecrow.

As the group is about to pass the scarecrow, the sharper-eyed among the group see that the scarecrow is bleeding. Blood was not noticed before. Old blood on clothes, maybe, but not actual blood. And something about the skin is more pink than the ashen gray you've noticed from ghouls. Do you still leave the scarecrow posted before heading to the farmhouse?

[TooterfishPopkn]

As Steingott walks he catches the condition of the "scarecrow".

"Al...I think you're absolutely right. Let's get to the farmhouse quickly and set up a strong point like Draegra suggested. Let's not assume all the ghouls are decoys. Some of them didn't seem as much. Gods...at least I hope they weren't all decoys."

Steingott winces.

Could I have just ended that many innocent lives!?

[rypt]

Al is far less introspective about their discovery, cursing loudly. "If that blood is fresh, they could still be alive! We can't leave them out here!" At that, he steps towards the edge of the road, seeming intent on heading into the field to retrieve whoever has been strung up.

Spoiler: OOC

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Leaving an opening here for others to speak up, whether that be to stop Al, join him, or go in his place.

[DrK]

Draegra

Draegra stops and watches this "scarecrow" more carefully. "I agree with Al, that one looks different, its not twitchig like the others and if its a farmer we can't leave him there." he looks at the soldiers, "Wait here and come running if we are attacked." He then hefts the morning star and starts walking carefully towards the figure hanging from the post stamping the corn down carefully to make a path

[lostsole31]

Al and Draegra get to the scarecrow. They look up, and see a young woman, but that young woman is definitely not doing well, and doesn't seem to be fully conscious, though every now and then she does move that might seem like the random twitch Draegra mentioned before.

Do they take her down?

[rypt]

Al mutters as he hurriedly hooks his shield onto his pack, draws a dagger, and begins to cut the woman loose. He tries to position himself beneath her, crouching if need be, such that if she falls, she falls onto his shoulder opposite the hand that holds his spear.

Spoiler: OOC

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Al will change stances back to iron pikeman's attitude so that he can move more quickly.

[meemaas]

Norton has been quiet as of late, maybe deep in thought, maybe distracted. Either way, he chooses now to speak up. "Be careful. She may seem alive, but that could also be a trap. Lure us in thinking this one might be alive in order to get a surprise strike."

[TooterfishPopkn]

Steingott rushes into the corn after the others, keeping a bit of distance incase he needs to throw stones.

He calls out:

"Stay sharp. I'm not convinced all these 'scarecrows' are a bunch of helpless victims."

[lostsole31]

Zada, what do you during this time?

[digiman619]

Zada steps forward to inspect the weakened woman's prone form; raising a hand to touch her temple. If it was a trap and she was secretly a disguised ghoul, this touch would injure the wretch, but if she was injured and alive, it should mend any wounds she has. If she was diseased, that'd be trickier, but confirming her living status was more important.

Spoiler: OOC

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MA To get to her if needed, SA healing hex [roll]1d+5[/roll]. (DC 18 if save is needed) If I have time, Heal check (1d20+4)[17] to determine what's wrong with her

[lostsole31]

The three men and nonbinary look over the woman. Zada's hex heals her physical wounds, but Zada sees in the dying sun of the day that she is well along with ghoul fever, and likely wouldn't last the night before dying and becoming a ghoul.

Spoiler: Alvor

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Alvor (only), you think you just might hear something moving through the corn on the other side of the road. What do you do? You may take only a MA or SA, not a FRA, FAA, or both SA & MA. Your ears could be deceiving you, but your intuition probably isn't. Right now, nothing is in your hands because you helped bring the woman down, so your polearm is laying at your feet.

[rypt]

As he watches Zada tend to the woman's wounds, Al suddenly stiffens and turns to look back over his shoulder. Hearing what he thinks sounds like movement, he calls out a warning to those still waiting on the road -- "Norton, behind you!" -- before bending down to grab his spear.

Spoiler: OOC

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Move action: Al retrieves his ranseur.

[lostsole31]

As he watches Zada tend to the woman's wounds, Al suddenly stiffens and turns to look back over his shoulder. Hearing what he thinks sounds like movement, he calls out a warning to those still waiting on the road -- "Norton, behind you!" -- before bending down to grab his spear.

S22: From within Norton's familiar satchel, Destroyer McGee rapidly thumps out a warning!

S21: Something attacks the back line of guards from the cornfield, biting Paltero Talbert in the shoulder for 3.

S20-19: CPL Varg wasn't ready for the one that jumped out, but heard another one. She takes out her longsword. "Attack from north!" she cries out a warning. Talbert also draws his sword.

S15: Norton, you were (and are) surprised) by Red, so you may not respond to Red. However, you aren't surprised by something in the cornfield almost due north of you (west on this map). What do you do?

Spoiler: Norton

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You may not respond with a hostile action against Red, but you may take any normally defensive posture or prepare for what's coming, and as a surprise round you are limited to MA or SA, not both.

[meemaas]

Norton, caught by surprise, will stumble away from the attackers, towards his allies, while fumbling to grab his weapon.

Spoiler

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Move action: Move towards the other PC's. He will attempt to draw his weapon, but as this is both a surprise round, and for fluff sake, I don't mind if he fails to do so.