The Shield of the North [IC]

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 13 HP: 10/10 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Entangle

Seeds, pollen, and spores are everywhere. With the right magic... mushrooms, vines, and unnaturally large blades of grass rise from the stone to wrap around the birdman skeletons.

Spoiler

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Entangle, Targeted basically at the gate so I hit all 4, but so that someone who wants to melee can reach the top and bottom ones.
Str DC 13
2 (1d20)[12]+?
3 (1d20)[8]+?
4 (1d20)[11]+?
5 (1d20)[3]+?

Grasping weeds and vines sprout from the ground in a 20-foot square starting from a point within range. For the duration, these plants turn the ground in the area into difficult terrain.

A creature in the area when you cast the spell must succeed on a Strength saving throw or be restrained by the entangling plants until the spell ends. A creature restrained by the plants can use its action to make a Strength check against your spell save DC. On a success, it frees itself.

When the spell ends, the conjured plants wilt away.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad watches in horrified shock as more monsters from out of nightmare come flooding toward and over the wall. Her companions quickly dispatch the few that had reached their group, but more were still coming... and coming... and more and more were still coming.

The traps did their job effectively, and she steeled herself to gather some courage to charge for the ones the traps didn't stop. She was inexperienced in battle, but the primal fear of being overrun by the undead if those gates were opened up spurred her into action. And as for restraining and pulling people, she knew THAT was something she was good at.

Fortunately, in this moment she didn't have to, as right before she was able to reach the skeletons thorny brambles suddenly sprang from the ground, entangling them and holding

She takes the opportunity afforded by Aupti's impressive display of magic to get in an easy strike with her halberd, swinging with emphasis at the skeleton who seem closest to the gate.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Move to the spot where I am within 10 ft of #4 and #5 as before.
Attack #5 with halberd at advantage due to restrained skeletons
Attack (1d20+5)[12] or (1d20+5)[24]
Damage (1d10+3)[7]

[Dirty]

Connor charged at the undead crowding at the gate.

He made sure not to stray too far from Shad. He was terrified but the people at his side made it better. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to even move if he'd been all by himself.

"Hasgreak, rain he'll down upon them!" He screamed as he hacked at the boney creatures.

Spoiler

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Action: Attack action
13 to hit, 9 damage
Bonus action, bardic inspiration: Hasgreak

[zylodrizzt]

I got you lad! Hasgraek fires his bow once again adding a bit of blood to it as well for some added omph. (I'll edit but feel like 11 damage is enough to kill). The arrow smashes into the skull of the bird with the force of a hammer shattering it into so many pieces and bone dust.

[TriciaOso]

The group takes out two of the skeletons.

The one nearest Shad rips itself free of the entangling vines and and the bear trap, leaving behind one of its limbs, and stagger-hops closer to attack the fighter. Its attack fails, however, talons snagging the rings of her mail.

The two other skeletons caught in the traps do the same, ripping free heedless of the bones they leave behind. Their movement is slow and erratic, but they seem to hopping determinedly towards the heroes fighting in the courtyard. And even as the fight rages on, four more skeletons spill over the top of the wall. The ones nearest the gate overextend their ragged glide to avoid the entangling vines, and land prone in the courtyard.

Beatrice fires up a magical flare from the wall; from the keep, siege weapons and magical batteries that were aimed into the bay or at the unloading ships turn their fire to the field before the gate, shattering the ranks of skeletons.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS: Skeletons 4 and 5 are destroyed by your attacks. Skeleton 2 makes the save to escape Entangle; Skeleton 3 does not. Skeletons 1, 2, and 6 lose half their HP to escape the bear traps and move. Skeleton 2 attacks Shad and misses with a 9.

Four more skeletons come over the wall. Skeleton 7 lands fine. Skeletons 8, 9 and 10 overextend their glide to miss the Entangle and fall prone.

You have advantage on 3 (still entangled), 8, 9 and 10 (prone). 1, 2 and 6 are badly damaged.

DAMAGE:
Birdfolk Skeleton 1 - 7 dmg, hobbled
Birdfolk Skeleton 2 - 6 dmg, hobbled
Birdfolk Skeleton 3 - 0 dmg, entangled
Birdfolk Skeleton 4 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 5 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 6 - 7 dmg, hobbled
Birdfolk Skeleton 7 - 0dmg
Birdfolk Skeleton 8 - 0 dmg, prone
Birdfolk Skeleton 9 - 0 dmg prone
Birdfolk Skeleton 10 - 0 dmg prone

INITIATIVE:
20 - Aupti
10 - Birdfolk Skeletons, Connor, Shad, Hasgraek

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 13 HP: 10/10 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Entangle

Aupti hurls more flame from his right hand at the entangled skeleton.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+5)[15] or (1d20+5)[6] for (1d8)[4] fire damage

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad begins to pick up into a rhythm, feeling the flow of battle, the ebbs and tides of enemies and allies. She was beginning to realize she was kind of a natural at this.

With the quick mind of a natural tactician, she realized that her best place to strike would be at the one just at the edge of her reach, where there was the most danger of it escaping and reaching the gate's mechanisms. THAT could not be allowed. Shad focuses her muscles into a massive arcing strike with a primal battlecry and crushing intent.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Don't move
Attack #10 with halberd
Attack with advantage (1d20+5)[25] or (1d20+5)[7]
Damage (1d10+3)[10] + 10 for crit = 20

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek AC:13 HP: 10/10 PPer:13 PInv:14 PIst:9 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Well done lass! hasgraek says firing off another bloody bolt. He aims at just where the hips meet and wills his blood to expand just enough to break apart the rest of the skeleton as if ice were splitting stone. It's subtle but a hint of red can be seen in the hollow bones.

[Dirty]

Next to Shad, Connor is having a decidedly harder time with the flow of the battle. He's tripping over vines, getting bumped from left to right and can hardly see what he's doing. He waves his sword around like a half blind drunkard. Flailing around with the dagger in his other hand he nicks an enemy, but Connor is looking like he's having a rough time.
'

Spoiler

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Attack action:
To Hit: 1d20 (1) + 5 = fail
Damage: Waiting for roll...

Bonus action:
To Hit: 1d20 (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 3

[TriciaOso]

Two skeletons stagger towards the stable where Hasgraek has made his perch. They climb with surprising speed, using their talons and wings, and soon are flanking him. Another badly-damaged skeleton wobbles towards Aupti, moving slowly.

The two prone skeletons jackknife upright and converge on Shad and Connor, as well as the skeleton who left half its bones behind in the trap and the thorns. Connor dodges out of the way, but Shad is less lucky, both skeletons raking their talons over her.

Up on the wall, the press is slackening as the siege engines turn on the field. Beatrice spares a couple of eldritch blasts for you, destroying two of the already-damaged skeletons.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS: Skeletons 3 and 10 are destroyed by your attacks. Connor does 3 dmg to Skeleton 9.

Skeletons 1 moves 15 feet towards Aupti, his movement halved, and then moves another 15 feet with his action.

Skeleton 6 moves 15 feet towards towards Hasgraek, his movement halved. He uses his action to climb up the side of the building; his climb speed is not halved because he uses his talons instead of his feet. Skeleton 7 moves 30 feet towards Hasgraek. He uses his action to climb up the side of the building.

Skeletons 8 and 9 stand up from prone. Skeletons 2 and 8 use their action to attack Shad; both hit (16 and 18) doing 9 dmg. Skeleton 9 uses its action to attack Connor and misses.

Beatrice fires an eldritch blast at Skeleton 2 and Skeleton 6 and hits both (13, 15), destroying them.

DAMAGE:
Shad - 9 dmg

Birdfolk Skeleton 1 - 7 dmg, hobbled
Birdfolk Skeleton 2 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 3 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 4 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 5 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 6 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 7 - 0 dmg
Birdfolk Skeleton 8 - 0 dmg
Birdfolk Skeleton 9 - 3 dmg
Birdfolk Skeleton 10 - destroyed

INITIATIVE:
20 - Aupti
10 - Birdfolk Skeletons, Connor, Shad, Hasgraek

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 13 HP: 10/10 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: Entangle

Aupti moves slightly closer to the skeleton coming for him. It hasn't spotted the trap in front of him, and he wants to make sure it'll walk into it, if his conjured flames don't do it in....which they don't.

Spoiler

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Produce Flame (1d20+5)[6] for (1d8)[7] fire
Move 5' southwest

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek AC:13 HP: 10/10 PPer:13 PInv:14 PIst:9 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

He passes a nod to beatrice in thanks before the other bones met him in melee. Surprised by the speed the bones managed to reach him hasgraek hastily dropped his bow which caused it to land on the ground below. Not worrying about that however he grabs his smaller lighter war pick and one of his daggers. The warpick he jams into the bones ribs and pulls hard taking some rib with it. As the bones pull forward normally he would jam his dagger into the ribs as well but instead he stabs his dagger into its head. It falls to a pile of bones that hasgraek kicks from the roof. He drops his dagger where the bow lay and climbs down to try and retrieve it soon and perhaps join the melee. Im coming ta help.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad recoils at the slashing strikes of the undead birdfolk, feeling the warmth of her blood wet her clothes and then immediately begin freeze the fabric to her skin, seeing droplets of her own blood fleck scarlet on the snowed ground. It was terrifying....

But she was still standing!!

She switches up the grip on her polearm for a better shot at the enemies in close and calls out, ****! YOU!! swinging with vigor at the nearest skeleton.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Use Second Wind as a Bonus Action to regain (1d10+1)[3] hitpoints
Attack skeleton 8 (1d20+5)[16]
Damage [1d10+3[/roll]

[Dirty]

Connor glanced over just in time to see Shad get hurt. He slashed at the expressionless skull and pushed the skeleton that was harrying him aside before spinning around and focussing a quick prayer on the fighter beside him.

Connor knew that the songs and prayers held power this night most of all, he focussed and beseeched the very city of Coldwater itself. Speaking to the stones and dirt they were standing on.


'In shadows of Coldwater dire,
Where dread inspires,

Beneath the toll of bells that pierce the night,
We bow in prayer, seek healing light.'

'Oh, Guardian, I beseech thee now,
With thy grace, let healing flow.

In this city of gloom, where shadows creep,
Grant us strength, dispel the deep.'

'In Coldwater's embrace, where darkness thrives,
Let your healing presence shine and revive.
As the bells ring out their protective chime,
May the living reign for all time.'

If a city could breathe, it exhaled from below an energy and Shad's wounds partly closed.

Spoiler

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Attack action:
To Hit: 1d20 (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d6 (2) + 3 = 5

Bonus action:
Healing word: Shad, 4 hp

[TriciaOso]

Shad smashes another skeleton to the ground, and Connor badly damages another before singing his healing verse. It claws at him, trying to stop the holy words, but can't make contact against the nimble bard.

The final remaining skeleton, badly mangled escaping a trap, lurches closer to Aupti. It staggers towards another trap... but by sheer luck manages to hop right over it, coming face to face with him. It swipes at him, but the lack of a leg causes it to over balance and tangle in the druid's furs.

Beatrice glances over the wall at you, but seeing you seem to have things well in hand, helps the militamen finish clearing the shrouds and skeletons on the parapet. The surge of skeletons has stopped in the face of the bombardment from the keep. "Come on up here when you're done with that lot," she calls. "Something you should see."

You know there are stairs within the tower up to where she is.

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS:
Skeleton 7 is destroyed by Hasgraek. Skeleton 9 is destroyed by Shad. Skeleton 8 takes 5 damage from Connor.

Skeleton 1 moves towards Aupti. It crosses over a trap but makes the DEX Save with a 15. It attacks Aupti and misses with a 9.

Skeleton 8 attacks Connor and misses with an 8.

DAMAGE:
Shad - 2 dmg

Birdfolk Skeleton 1 - 7 dmg, hobbled
Birdfolk Skeleton 2 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 3 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 4 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 5 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 6 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 7 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 8 - 5 dmg
Birdfolk Skeleton 9 - destroyed
Birdfolk Skeleton 10 - destroyed

INITIATIVE:
20 - Aupti
10 - Birdfolk Skeletons, Connor, Shad, Hasgraek

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek AC:13 HP: 10/10 PPer:13 PInv:14 PIst:9 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Hasgraek picks up his dagger. He takes a few steps toward the bird in the north sensing that the magic animating it wouldn't last much longer he launches his dagger and it dislodges a bone in the spine and it lands in a pile in front of aupti. He then heads south toward the last bone bird pickaxe leading slipping it up underneath its shoulder blades hooking it. He lifts it up into the air and slams it back down over his shoulder on the other side of himself away from the other two its bones splintering and scattering away. Is everyone ok? he says just before noticing the bleeding of Chad and instantly looks away. Clean yerself up lass dont want to attract any blood suckers. he goes and collects his things. Lets get up there. he puts distance between himself and Chad not looking at her attempting not to sense the blood. You don't heat any carefree belly laugh escape his lips at least for the time being.

[J-H]

Aupti

Aupti hops back a little late, but the skeleton collapses as Hasgraek takes care of it. "Thank you. That one was a bit close."

He goes up the stairs with the others, considering what wonder or horror they might see next.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad snarls as the last of the skeletons is dispatched, looking around wildly for a moment to find any other enemies to kill. But seeing none, she puffs out a heavy breath and hefts her halberd, intending to head up to the top where Beatrice had called them.

She gives Hasgraek a rude gesture at his suggestion to clean herself up, but pulls out a sweatrag from her belt pouch and starts to wrap it around the lightly bleeding wound on her arm. Partway through the process, it seems to hit her what Hasgraek meant about attracting bloodsuckers; that's not just an idle comment between fellow fighters here, there could actually be undead creatures attracted to blood.

Oh, ****! she thinks as she quickly finishes up wrapping her wound, perhaps slightly tighter than really necessary, and scrambles up the ladder to the top of the wall, fumbling slightly with her halberd as she goes.

[TriciaOso]

When all of you have joined her on the gate tower, Beatrice points out some key features of the western front of the battle.



The keep faces the bay and the west; for now, the bay is protected by a net of iron and silver and the naval forces of Coldwater, and you can see the battle happening out over the water and around the tower that anchors the net. It seems impossible that the net won't fall, but while it lasts the bay will stand fast. Things will get worse after that.

A large section of undead forces are assembled before the Aguille Gate and the Keep; a lot of them are pushing south, although you see skeletons and wights disintegrating constantly as they push against the consecration of the land. More are attacking the walls, repulsed by militia and the siege engines of the Keep. You see the many flags of the tribu of Blackwater among them.

Beatrice points to a specific flag, bronze with a skull and a gear. It flies from a large group of ships anchored along the western coast.



"The Onager are leading the assault this year. Artificer necromancers, mechanics. The Keep has been stopping them from unloading their equipment, but the assault on the gate got too heavy and we had to retarget our own siege engines."

You can see huge, shambling shapes moving around the ships, unloading and assembling equipment... undead giants. They've already erected a hasty giant-scaled shield wall to protect the ships and the half-constructed seige engines. You see catapults, trebuchets, ballistas... and the repulsive siege engines of the undead giants themselves, each one piloted by a necromancer.



"There will be a short lull while their gayants finish assembly, and then bombardment will begin. They'll target the Keep primarily... you'll only need to worry about strays. Not much you can do about a flaming ball of tar or a ballista bolt, but they've been known to fire worse things."

"Just stay ready... infantry may break through, or a stray catapult shot may start a fire, or Maiden knows what other devilry. But it's going to be quiet before it gets loud, so stay ready."

[J-H]

Aupti
Aupti studies everything to the best of his ability, although he doesn't know much about sieges and armies. Still, the rocks of the walls seem quite solid and sturdy.

[zylodrizzt]

Hasgraek AC:13 HP: 10/10 PPer:13 PInv:14 PIst:9 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Staring out to the battlefield hasgraek scans for a sign of his wife while touching the rings on the string around his neck. (If he doesn't spot her) he turns to beatrice Yer defenses be mighty fer sure but ifn yer fer knowing what them bastards be bringing it seems to me better surprises be waiting fer them. Been hearing them bells but what else? Them bigguns out there... got anything fer them?

After any conversation hasgraek says to Chad as best he can without looking at her Lass catch yer breath for a while. In fact anyone here na used ta the fight should take a breather. Ill be resetting the traps an seeking some more tricks fer them deados. he says before heading back down to do some work. Still no belly laughs as he had before.

[Dirty]

Connor took in the sight of the waterfront with a dumbstruck awe. He'd heard the stories, so many times. To see it himself felt like climbing inside of a book he'd read and now finally experiencing every detail, smell and sound and it just changed everything. He knew Coldwater, he believed in her, but seeing the enemy massed like this even his faith was starting to tremble. He shook off the feeling as soon as it came and the bells rang him into the present again.

Hasgreak was right.

This was not a time to think about the city falling. This was a time for action.

"Wait up, I'll help!" He shouted as he ran after the peculiar Dwarf.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 13/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

Shad stares out at the battle arrayed out in the harbor and the plains around Coldwater, shivering not just from the cold. The reality of the world she apparently lived in just kept punching her in the mouth. As her heartbeat began to betray her, the world shifting and turning as if before her very eyes, she swallows, the dryness of her mouth and the effort she'd been exuding leaving a coppery taste behind.

She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, and takes a breath, begging herself not to cry. You're a fighter, dammit. You can't make 'em hit you somewhere else, you just put your hands up, and rock with the blows.

"I'm gonna see if someone can wrap this a little better," she says gesturing to her bandaged arm, her face pale with the fear she was keeping shoved down to avoid panicking while the battle still raged. "Then maybe get some water or something..."

[TriciaOso]

Staring out to the battlefield hasgraek scans for a sign of his wife while touching the rings on the string around his neck. (If he doesn't spot her) he turns to beatrice Yer defenses be mighty fer sure but ifn yer fer knowing what them bastards be bringing it seems to me better surprises be waiting fer them. Been hearing them bells but what else? Them bigguns out there... got anything fer them?

"Volunteering?" Beatrice asks. "My genuine advice, Mr. Icegrip... don't try and prosecute the war from the Aguille Gate. Fight your own battle and trust the Duke. There are other pieces than you moving on this chessboard."

Shad stares out at the battle arrayed out in the harbor and the plains around Coldwater, shivering not just from the cold. The reality of the world she apparently lived in just kept punching her in the mouth. As her heartbeat began to betray her, the world shifting and turning as if before her very eyes, she swallows, the dryness of her mouth and the effort she'd been exuding leaving a coppery taste behind.

She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, and takes a breath, begging herself not to cry. You're a fighter, dammit. You can't make 'em hit you somewhere else, you just put your hands up, and rock with the blows.

"I'm gonna see if someone can wrap this a little better," she says gesturing to her bandaged arm, her face pale with the fear she was keeping shoved down to avoid panicking while the battle still raged. "Then maybe get some water or something..."

There are relief stations for the militia along the battlements, tucked into small alcoves and manned by non-combatants brave enough to stand this close to the fight and smart enough to hide under a table when things get thick. An ice genasi girl, looking far too young to be here, offers you dipperful of water from a barrel. She taps a finger on the tin dipper, and the water is so cold and fresh that it tastes like wine, right now. She will also help with first aid, if you want, but--fair warning--her hands are remarkably cold.

Spoiler: Persuasion 10+

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She looks astonishingly calm in the face of what's happened so far, but of course she's local; this isn't her first seige, or even her first night on the battlements, perhaps. Her elemental heritage is less obvious than some of the ice genasi you've seen in this city, but there are tells. Her breath doesn't make puffs of cloud like yours does, and while you've met women with ice-white hair, you've never been able to see dimly through it. Her name is Verglas.

---

Once you've reset the traps and ranged yourself around the courtyard in your preferred locations, the strange paradox of combat sets in. The bells chime off the hours, and for a while nothing happens. Not nothing -- there are skirmishes along the battlements, work for the archers, and you can see the siege engines hammering at the Keep from here, and the wizards and weapons of the keep striking back. You know that forces have encircled the city and are hammering from all directions, seeking a weak point. But as Beatrice told you, this gate is small enough and close enough to the Keep to be a lower priority, and for some time the militia are able to hold enough anything from getting to the four of you.

But, as Beatrice did warn, sometimes catapults and trebuchets go astray, and you are in prime location for that. The first time it happens is about two hours later. A huge spiked ball smashes into a battlement of the Keep and richochets, crashing into the courtyard. By sheer luck, it drops squarely into the little sheltered circle of carts Aupti has been using for cover all night. The druid is able to dive out of the way, but shrapnel and smashed wood go flying. Both he and Connor have some minor scrapes as a result.

Spoiler: OOC

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Rolled a 2 on a d4, which means the misfire is a spiked ball. Rolled a 10 and 1 on 2d10 for the upper right section of the map, where Aupti has been. Aupti made his DEX saving throw, taking none of the bludgeoning damage from the cannonball and halving the shrapnel damage (5). Everyone else rolls a DEX saving throw for half the shrapnel damage; Shad saves (15), Hasgraek saves (21), Connor fails (13).

Connor and Aupti both take 2 damage.

---

More time passes. More bells, chiming out the hour. And then -- another misfire, and another grim package headed your way.

This time it crashes just inside the gate, not close enough to any of you to put you in direct danger. It lands with an ugly splatting noise, and for good reason... the Onager seem to have fired a corpse or corpses over the wall, and it clearly did not survive the impact. It lies there, an ugly pile of viscera and scattered limbs.

[Breitheamh]

Shad Human Grappler Fighter AC: 16 HP: 11/13 PPer: 12 PInv: 9 PIst: 12 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

At the relief station, Shad gratefully drinks a few ladlefuls of water, swishing the ice cold refreshment around and sighing contentedly. She smiles weakly at the woman running the station, gesturing toward her bandage, and finding herself somehow too tired to even attempt to flirt, not that she was any good at it anyway. "Could I get some help with this, maybe?" she says, and then begins wincing moments later when the ice cold hands of the nurse redress the wound.

As she leaves, feeling a little bit better, she tosses a quick and quiet, "Uh, I'm Shad by the way, okay thanks," a toward the rather attractive ice genasi, but feels her face flushing and decides to get back to the wall before she can embarrass herself further.

---

The waiting was maddening... The sounds of the besiegement were terrifying, but they were distant, and even if there hadn't been a dread knowledge that eventually something horrible and violent would happen here, Shad could never keep still for too long anyway. She starts pacing back and forth as she waits, doing a little shadowboxing to keep herself focused on something other than the very real knowledge that tonight may very well be her last night alive.

And it must have been pure luck, because her incessant pacing brought her just far enough away from the first stray shot that she could easily dodge out of the way, her heart pounding in her ears at the explosive sound. The time between "INCOMING!!" and CRASH!! were frighteningly short, and it took a few minutes for her heartrate to subside to a more reasonable degree. Everyone near her was alive, but it had been close for Aupti, the other one who seemed to be as awkward as she was, and Connor, the closest thing to a friend she had in this city so far.

More waiting ensued, more maddening restlessness and attempts to ignore the very rational part of her screaming to run away and hide. And then the next stray shot...

It wasn't something from a nightmare this time...somehow it was something worse. Her face immediately drained as she forced down her gag reflex at the horrifying stench and the unimaginably gruesome sight. Choking out through the bile insistently trickling into her mouth, she says, "What, the ****?"

[J-H]

Aupti is grateful he dodged! It wasn't too bad of a hit, not worse than a tree exploding when struck by lightning. He repositions farther south. Contrary to the old adage, lightning does in fact strike the same place multiple times. He's not going to risk it.

"That was close."

He waits. Hunting and working with animals requires lots of patience.

He waits some more. Maybe they won't get attacked again?

"What is that..." He stares at the pile of gore. "Should we burn it? In case..." Flames light in his hand.

Spoiler

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Not sure what kind of check to see if it's anything other than just dead flesh. Also casting Produce Flame.
(1d20)[12]
Modifiers...
Nature +2
Medicine +3
Perception +5
Religion +0

[J-H]

Aupti Human Arctic Druid AC: 13 HP: 8/10 PPer: 15 PInv: 10 PIst: 13 Conditions: -- Concentrating: --

As he sees movement among the pile, Aupti throws living flame at it.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+5)[10] for (1d8)[6]

[zylodrizzt]

After setting up the traps just as Chad comes back to the group. Thats a good lass. he says Once again looking at the young human woman.

When the projectiles hit hasgraek has but barely a moment to react with a warning. Had he not perhaps conner and aupti would have been more injured. DOWN! he bellows much as he would have had he been in a battle with his clan by his side. He didn't know if it actually helped but once he looked up from being prone he knew he'd have to look away. They weren't severely bleeding but there was enough to rile his insides up. Still looking away Are you lads ok? showing concern for the 2 lads. He stood up and looked at the blob that landed aways away. No way whatever they were trying to do with that survived the impact... had it even been more then just a dead body that is. In order to distract himself from the blood he busied himself setting up the area with the new rubble that had formed. He says to Chad ay lass sometimes in sieges the enemy just wants you sick and scared. Remember why you fighting no matter the reason. It will steel yer nerves. just before the mass has begun moving....of course... undead.

[Dirty]

Wiping some blood from his forehead Connor got quiet during the waiting period. He took out his notebook and made some sketches, wrote down some things just to take his mind off of the wait.

When the ball of corpses hit, he stood up and looked at it. He was still quite lost in thought, and even though he might have known something could be up, the unnatural pattern of remains caught his gaze and he was staring into it like some people could do when they were looking at a fire.

It was only when the actual fire Aupti hurled at the moving bodyparts hit the splatted jumble of limbs that Connor snapped out of it.

He ran a bit closer to the pile and pulled out a simple wooden flute, started playing a peculiar tune harnessing magic. Readying it to blast whatever would come out of that ungodly pile.

Spoiler

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Readied action: Thunderwave

A wave of thunderous force sweeps out from you. Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from you must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 2d8 thunder damage and is pushed 10 feet away from you. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and isn't pushed.

In addition, unsecured objects that are completely within the area of effect are automatically pushed 10 feet away from you by the spell's effect, and the spell emits a thunderous boom audible out to 300 feet.

[TriciaOso]

Struck by Aupti's spell, the necromantic construct leaps forward in the direction of the flame. It is a haphazard collection of severed limbs, animated by a diffuse cloud of magic, and staggers around quickly but erratically; as if always on the verge of collapsing, but turning that collapse into a roll of forward motions. It leaves behind the torso and other miscellaneous bits of a fallen zombie.

Connor's Thunderwave spell blasts the jumble of limbs backwards in a chaotic spray, but they rapidly bundle themselves together again and lunge for him. Or -- most of them do. The construct seems to be shedding limbs as they become too damaged to function, and has already half of its size. The limbs engulf Connor and snatch at him, slapping and kicking. They successfully strike him, but the floating hands fail to get a grip on his throat.

As you stare in horror at the limbs, the rest of the zombie's remains begin to ooze forward independently. It is too shattered from the catapult to move like anything other than a slime or ooze, and creeps forward very... very... slowly...

Spoiler: Summary

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ACTIONS:
The Swarm of Zombie Limbs moves forward 25 feet to engulf and attack Connor. The Undead Mass attack hits with a 17, doing 5 damage. The Grasping Limbs attack fails, and he is not restrained or damaged further.

DAMAGE:
Shad - 2 dmg
Aupti - 2 dmg
Connor - 7 dmg

Swarm of Zombie Limbs - 11 dmg
Boneless - 3 dmg

INITIATIVE
20 - Aupti, Beatrice
13 - Swarm of Zombie Limbs, Boneless
10 - Connor, Hasgraek, Shad