[BFRP] The Darkening of Tristram [IC]

[Frosty]

"Yes well...sorry about you losing your job. I've always liked you the most out of the bodyguards my father had hired though."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Listening to Moira Johnny nods.

"I'll take point and secure the entry, if you hear screaming, please come save me."

Johnny climbs down the rope.

[Nightraiderx]

Sharakahn will hold the torch over the hole as Johnny descends,
"Aye a brave one to jump in head first, eh? If you find undead at the bottom I'll set flame to them from here!"

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Johnny calls back up.

"I dunno about Brave, but sitting still watching someone else take risks on my behalf never sat well with me. Thank you for the light."

[BananaPhone]

Zenoa

All Moira could see of Zenoa was the hint of blue eyes behind her visor. What she was thinking was basically indecipherable. Had she taken it well, accepting the sign of humility? Or had she been unmoved by the gesture? Who knew.

Looking down into the pit, Zenoa looked over her shoulder at Josiah, her current charge, making sure to stay within arms reach of him at all times.

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - Central Room

The corpse lights up like dry kindling under the magicians flames. The smell of burning flesh and singed hair fills the air as the animated body finally collapses into charred pieces. "Thank you." Josiah says after he finishes his prayer. "Whatever else might happen, at least we've done this."

The blackened and greasy rope holds Johnny's weight as he climbs down to the platform below. With the bright light of the torch above he can see with greater detail the battle and torn viscera of the warrior who fought here. The colors on his uniform are stained with blood and other muck but Johnny knows the uniform of a King's soldier when he sees one. The soldiers pack is missing and his sword is stuck in the skull of a rotten corpse that's laying on top of the dead man. Around him lay half a dozen more corpses that bear the marks of violent deaths.

There's no difficulty in reattaching the rope to the lift mechanism. At the north face of the pit are wide double doors that lead further into the mine with iron rails for carts running underneath them. Johnny can see that the doors are barred on the other side and that this side of the doors show heavy gouges and scratches.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

"Its clear down here, come on down"

Johnny begins moving around and inspecting the area, removing the sword from the skull to inspect it.

"Lots of kingsmen died here. Violently. And something has tried to break down the double doors here."

[Nightraiderx]

"So far so good. Zenoa you want to head down next with the priest and I'll follow you with the torch?"
Sharakahn will keep the torch low to give Johnny as much light as possible.

[Frosty]

Moira climbs down. "It looks like some monster was...or is...being contained here. Perhaps these men died trying to kill it and when that failed, containment was the next best option? We need to be careful to not meet the same fate."

[Darius Vibrtrar]

"We will need to open these doors, not to overly rely on your mystic talents, but some fire might be more effective against these wooden doors than strength of arm."

Johnny looks to Sharakahn, with a requesting smile.

[Nightraiderx]

"Let's see how tough these doors are then!" Sharakahn aims a Fireball enchanted with thunderweave at the door. (13 Fire damage)

[BananaPhone]

Zenoa


Zenoa observed the scene before her, her eyes narrowing behind her visor as she tried to piece together several scenarios that could lead to the situation. But, as she did so, the call came through to assist the priest down into the pit, which she dutifully did.

Stepping down first, "here, father," she put one long arm out to help guide the priest safely into the pit, even though every prior instinct as a bodyguard told her not to bring a charge into an enclosed area with only one apparent exit.

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - Elevator Pit

The sword slides free of the skull without trouble. Handling the blade Johnny can feel the enchantments that were laid upon it. The dead sergeant's longsword is a well-crafted weapon, both sturdy and balanced and free of any nicks or damage to the blade despite the condition of its previous wielder.

Zenoa reconstructs the battle here in her mind and sees drag marks on the dirt floor going under the door. Someone dragged one or more bodies - maybe still living - off the elevator and further into the mine. One of the corpses by the closed doors shows evidence of blunt force trauma to its head, definitely not caused by the longsword the sergeant used. That suggests another person was fighting down here against the undead with a different weapon, but the fighter and their weapon are not to be found. With the sergeants body found in the corner opposite the doors, it's possible he drew the undead as far away from the doors as he could so that whoever was behind them could close and bar them. He must have known this was a fight he would either win or die. The corpses surrounding the sergeant all bear wounds consistent with his longsword so it's likely that he managed to kill them all but then succumbed to his wounds before he could leave the pit.

"What bravery..." Josiah says to Zenoa, following her gaze. The rest of his thought is interrupted as Sharakahn blasts the double doors with a burst of fire and thunder. The timbers erupt in flame and appear to hold for a moment before the thunderwave causes a backdraft that shatters them into splinters. The soundblast is overwhelming in such small confines and shakes everyone nearby for a few moments as they listen to the echoes of the thunder reverberate down the halls of the mine. The explosion and falling doors kick up a cloud of dust that catches in throats and eyes.

When the dust settles a bit you all can see that beyond the rubble of the doors the space opens into a large room, with hallways to the north, east, and west. The iron tracks lead off in each direction, some with carts still on them, other carts knocked off with spilled ore. The last of the echoes of the explosion fade and aside from the ringing in your ears the mine is silent once again.

Spoiler

Show

Sergeant's Duty - Magic Item, Power 1 Longsword

+2 Defense vs Melee Weapon Attacks
+2 Defense vs Ranged Weapon Attacks
+2 on Attacks with this weapon

Enemies damaged cannot move further than Close for one turn.
Enemies damaged have -2 penalty to Battle tests for one turn.
Enemies damaged reduce Damage Reduction by 1 for one turn.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Johnny stares in awe at the sword as he sheathes his shortsword and adjusts it toward the back of his belt.

"Seargant, I will do you justice."

He raises his arm to cover his eyes as the doors are blasted down with the aid of his own magicks. He squints through the dust and thick air.

"Lets follow the tracks, assuming they dug too deep."

Johnny starts following the Tracks.

[BananaPhone]

Zenoa

Zenoa reconstructs the battle here in her mind and sees drag marks on the dirt floor going under the door. Someone dragged one or more bodies - maybe still living - off the elevator and further into the mine. One of the corpses by the closed doors shows evidence of blunt force trauma to its head, definitely not caused by the longsword the sergeant used. That suggests another person was fighting down here against the undead with a different weapon, but the fighter and their weapon are not to be found. With the sergeants body found in the corner opposite the doors, it's possible he drew the undead as far away from the doors as he could so that whoever was behind them could close and bar them. He must have known this was a fight he would either win or die. The corpses surrounding the sergeant all bear wounds consistent with his longsword so it's likely that he managed to kill them all but then succumbed to his wounds before he could leave the pit.

The ex-soldier pieced it all together as she peered at the door and back to the scene, pursing her lips in thought as she did so.

"Given what we see here, father, you sure you want to proceed further?" she asked, gesturing towards the now flaming door as the last vestiges of separation it once provided literally went up in flames.

"Whatever it was they were trying to seal in there they thought the cost of their lives was necessary."

[Nightraiderx]

Sharakahn thinks about it for a moment. "Perhaps it would be pertinent to take the east exist first and work our way to the right of this room."

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - East Hallway

The iron tracks crisscross each other in the central cart exchange room with tracks leading each direction into the darkness. Choosing the eastern way, Sharakahn leads with the torch and Johnny with the sergeants blade. A cross breeze coming from the west brings the familiar and wretched smell of the rotting corpse pile. Josiah gags at the smell and covers his mouth with part of his cloak. The walls and ceiling on this level of the mine are rough hewn stone held up with massive timbers, nothing like the finished work of the entry floor above.

Bringing the light into the hallway you can see the roots and sprouts breaking through the stone ceiling from the overgrown fungi above. This area is clear of the mushrooms for now at least, though the floor is far from empty. Bones are scattered across the ground, all of them broken apart, gnawed on and then thrown away. Skulls both animal and human can be found among the wreckage, each bone stripped clean of any meat, every skull cracked open. In the dim light at the edge of your sight the hallway appears to end at some sort of pit.

"What was that?!" Josiah shouts and whirls around, bracing his quarterstaff for attack as he looks westward. Nothing leaps out of the darkness and after a few moments he shakes his head. "Thought I heard something. Sorry." Moira and Zenoa are more perceptive than the wandering priest however, and see movement at the edge of the pit. Hands are scrabbling for purchase like someone trying to pull themselves up.

Spoiler

Show

Map is updated. Please test Observation (Detect Hidden Foe)

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Johnny stands ready, weapon and sheild in hand. He calls back.

"Some more of that explosive fire would be handy against these climbers!"

Johnny moves forward to prevent any of those climbing up the put from getting over the edge.

[Nightraiderx]

Sharakan perks his ears up hearing Johnny, "Alright lets see how well they withstand it then."
Sharakan launches a fireball at the climbing foes.

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - East Hallway

Sharakahn wastes no time and sends another ball of fire screaming down the hallway. It explodes with a blast of heat and thunder, knocking some hands off the edge. Johnny hustles up the edge of the pit, the light from the torch throwing shadows of him against the wall as he looks down to see another pile of corpses. Unlike the one form the first floor, these dead bodies are animated by some force that compels them to move. Johnny sees two badly burned corpses still twitching, just fallen from the edge. Aside from those two five more are clambering to their feet, their heads and limbs moving in sudden jerks. Two of them see Johnny and begin opening and closing their mouths in a crude approximation of chewing as they start to climb up the wall.

Spoiler

Show

Map. Please choose a stance and test Battle to determine order of turns.

Order of Battle right now:
Sharakahn 39 (Aggressive)
Moira 26 (Engaged)
Zenoa 26 (Defensive)
Undead 24 (Engaged)
Johnny 17 (Aggressive)

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Johnny works himself up into a fervor, assuming his Aggressive battle stance [battle check 17]

"We got like 5 corpses moving, let's get up front so they can't climb up and swarm us!"

[Nightraiderx]

Sharakahn will move forward with the torch, seeing the undead shambling in the pit. "Horrendous creature of unlife shall you return to the soil whence you came, Purgatorial Fire!"
Sharakahn erupts a pillar of fire underneath the undead, the flames rising and showing signs of heat and embers as the undead is crisp.

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - East Hallway

The surge of fire lights up the hallway for a split second and shines bright on the eyes of the hungry dead as the they clamber out of the pit. The corpse burned by Sharakahn falls to the ground, still twitching and jerking its limbs. Zenoa moves forward to get within the bright light of the torch, keeping Josiah next to her. Moira advances next to Sharakahn and lets looses arrows at another of the corpses at the back of the pit. The first strikes true and slams the corpse back against the wall, pinning it to the stone while it shakes and spasms. The venom from the arrow spreads quickly through the corpses body and disintegrates its major veins and arteries, leaving a desiccated corpse that is still only for a moment before the corpse convulses one last time and explodes in a shower of gore and viscera.

The other corpses shamble forward and drag themselves out of the slag pit. Aside from the scraping of their bodies across the ground and dirt the corpses are silent, making no moans or screams. Their eyes show only hunger as they swarm around Johnny while one lurches towards Sharakahn, attracted by the bright torch.

The swordsman cannot evade their attacks and their claws and teeth sink deep into his armor and piercing through to his flesh. Their rotten breath is nauseating and their diseased bodies threaten to overwhelm him.

Spoiler

Show

Map.

Johnny is last to act for this turn. Before you take your attack, please test Strength three times to avoid becoming getting infected from the corpses attacks.

Sharakahn must also test Strength once to avoid infection.

[Darius Vibrtrar]

With Sergants Duty in hand, Johnny slashes out against the first creature that came out of the pit, now fighting for his life, he remains in aggressive stance in order to stay alive.

[47 to hit]
[35 damage]

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - East Hallway

The Sergeants blade strikes true and nearly cleaves the corpse in two. It stumbles for a moment, blood and rotten guts spilling out of its eviscerated body. Despite a blow that would have killed a normal man the corpse manages to stay on its feet, the strength of the animating force pushing the body way beyond any natural limits. The burning corpse in the pit starts moving as well, crawling forward to climb its way out. The scent of fresh blood in the air invigorates the mindless corpses and drives them towards a frenzy.

"By the Light..." Josiah says, clutching his staff. "Be careful!"

Spoiler

Show

Map.

The corpses are choosing an Aggressive stance this turn. Everyone please choose a stance and test Battle.

Battle Order
Other Corpses: 58 (Aggressive)
Burned Corpse: 49 (Aggressive)
Johnny: 37 (Aggressive)
Moira: 26 (Engaged)
Sharakhan: 16 (Engaged)
Zenoa: 14 (Engage)

[Darius Vibrtrar]

Breathing heavily Johnny calls to his allies.

"Knock them hard! Don't hold back, they won't hold back against you!"

[Aggressive Stance, battle test 37]

[Frosty]

Moira readiews herself. Again in engaged stance. "My bow will keep them off you!" (26 Battle test)

[BananaPhone]

Zenoa


Zenoa's eyes widened as she spotted the desiccated corpses clawing their way up the pit, dead, empty eyes peering at the living like morsels and grasping with the fetid, disgusting remains of what were once limbs. Though she felt her heart beat against her ribcage, the former soldier steeled herself and made sure to stay within arms distance of the priest at all times, ready to swing her shield about to cover him should the things get too close.

Maintaining a balanced stance, Zenoa stood near the priest and would strike out at any of the undead that came within range - particularly the one that had almost been cleaved in twain by Johnny.

________
In Engaged stance.

[Chambers]

Abandoned Mine - East Hallway

One of the corpses is distracted by the torch and shambles away from Johnny to join the other one already attacking Sharakahn. Johnny's relief is brief as the other corpses resume their attacks against him. The one he cut in two with the Sergeants blade can do little but slam it's body against Johnnys, while the burning corpse climbs out of the pit and swipes at him with a massive fist.

Spoiler

Show

Map.

Johnny is hit 3 times for a total of 9 damage after DR. Sharakahn is his 2 times for a total of 16 damage after DR.

It's the adventurers turn to act, everyone can post their actions for the round.

Battle Order
Other Corpses: 58 (Aggressive)
Burned Corpse: 49 (Aggressive)
Johnny: 37 (Aggressive)
Moira: 26 (Engaged)
Sharakhan: 16 (Engaged)
Zenoa: 14 (Engaged)

[Darius Vibrtrar]

While Johnny defends against attacks with sheild and parrying with sword, he turns the back and reverse slashes back against the nearly cleaved in half undead that still stands before him.

"Stay DOWN!"

[32 to hit]
[12 damage]