Aegir

[Dr_Nimm]

"JUICY DEER CRISPY SKIN DRINK THE GREASE CRACK BONE LICK MARROW GET FAT HAPPY TIME AWRW!" agrees the ever practical Zorg.

Tessania fries the helpless zombie, turning the ice around it to vapor. . It twitches as it dies. Tessania moves next to Laucien, now 30 feet behind the ogre.

The dog sees a familiar face in Thorak and dashes towards him for assistance, 3 zombies racing behind, grinding their teeth and hissing. Their eyes glow malevolently in the dark.

Thorak up. Zombies will be on you at end of this round.

[DM7581]

I hope Zorg can take a hit. I continue on the ogre, swinging for his other knee.

8+5=13 to hit
3+3=6 damage

Yes! We must use our combined might to fell this beast! Zorg, go for the knees!

[Dr_Nimm]

Thorak cracks the loser ogre in the knee. The dog zips behind Thorak and starts barking. Zorg is confused, and delays his action.

The zombie pack arrives. One leaps on the Ogres back and starts biting his warty trapezius. Another zombie starts licking his bleeding hip, then bites him. The third one claws wildly at Thorak, because he's there. Her filthy nails scrape uselessly on his armor.

The ogre figures Thoraks armor is basically impenetrable, and tries his luck with the fool in the kilt. His swing misses so badly that Zorg didn't even defend himself. Not that he probably would have.

Zorg slings his greataxe behind his back, and shoots in at its legs. To the amazement of all, including the ogre himself, lunges up and flips the exhausted ogre face down prone on the ground over his back (contested shove). Presently, Zorg begins to flex his arms and gesticulate, shouting incoherently in what you assume to be joyous expressions of glory.

Laucien
Tessania
Dog
Thorak
Zorg
Zombies
Ogre (prone)

[Doctor-Dash]

Laucien assesses the situation. If I go back to the boats alone, I may as well have died with the hunting party... The downed ogre will provide a useful distraction, an easy meal for zombies. The longer he can kick and scream, the better.

He looses an arrow at the nearest zombie.

(18+5= 23 to hit, 6+3=9 for damage)

[Ketiara]

Thorak cracks the loser ogre in the knee. The dog zips behind Thorak and starts barking. Zorg is confused, and delays his action.

The zombie pack arrives. One leaps on the Ogres back and starts biting his warty trapezius. Another zombie starts licking his bleeding hip, then bites him. The third one claws wildly at Thorak, because he's there. Her filthy nails scrape uselessly on his armor.

The ogre figures Thoraks armor is basically impenetrable, and tries his luck with the fool in the kilt. His swing misses so badly that Zorg didn't even defend himself. Not that he probably would have.

Zorg slings his greataxe behind his back, and shoots in at its legs. To the amazement of all, including the ogre himself, lunges up and flips the exhausted ogre face down prone on the ground over his back (contested shove). Presently, Zorg begins to flex his arms and gesticulate, shouting incoherently in what you assume to be joyous expressions of glory.

Laucien
Tessania
Dog
Thorak
Zorg
Zombies
Ogre (prone)

EDIT:
Tessanna shoots one of the zombies with a firebolt
7+3+4=14 to hit 6fire dam

And then Tessanna spends the remaining of her move to move toward closer to the boat

[DM7581]

This might be a nice time to get out of here.

Zorg, get the deer, and get back to the ship! The rest of you, cover me at range and retreat to the ship!

I think the dog is next. Let me know when I am up.

[Ketiara]

This might be a nice time to get out of here.

Zorg, get the deer, and get back to the ship! The rest of you, cover me at range and retreat to the ship!

I think the dog is next. Let me know when I am up.

Thorak, what are you doing! Dont order that poor man this close to the murk without backup! Lets ready a retreat, but if we succeed on killing these poor souls then we may discuss going in to get the deer.

Tessanna rolls her eyes

"Big dumb oafs! Do I actually need to sew their heads firmly to their body?!?"

Zorg, dont you listen to that command, you stay here and do you strong man thing!

[DM7581]

I thought the deer fell to where we can see it. Is it out of visual range?

[Dr_Nimm]

The dog rallies and leaps out from behind Thorak. Instinct being to attack a prone target first, he digs his teeth into the ogre and starts whipping his head around, ripping out flesh for 5 damage.

Zorg pulls out his greataxe, plants his feet, and decapitates the ogre. (Critical hit for 18).

You all dispatch the remaining 3 zombies.

"GET DEER CRISPY CHEWIES?" Zorg looks distressed at getting two contradictory orders. He favors Thorak, but Tessania's presence is formidable.

[Ketiara]

The dog rallies and leaps out from behind Thorak. Instinct being to attack a prone target first, he digs his teeth into the ogre and starts whipping his head around, ripping out flesh for 5 damage.

Zorg pulls out his greataxe, plants his feet, and decapitates the ogre. (Critical hit for 18).

You all dispatch the remaining 3 zombies.

"GET DEER?" Zorg looks distressed at getting two contradictory orders. He favors Thorak, but Tessania's presence is formidable.

If there’s no more zombies around Tessanna tries to judge the distance to where she believes the deer to be.

(When she blasted it down the ridge, did she see how much damage the zombies managed to do to the corpse? And would she want to eat something that’s been touched by zombies?)

[Dr_Nimm]

Laucien counts the same amount of zombies here as he had seen.

[Dr_Nimm]

If there’s no more zombies around Tessanna tries to judge the distance to where she believes the deer to be.

(When she blasted it down the ridge, did she see how much damage the zombies managed to do to the corpse? And would she want to eat something that’s been touched by zombies?)

The deer is probably about 150 feet away. It's not clear if the zombies ate it or not.

Do you guys go look?

[Ketiara]

The deer is probably about 150 feet away. It's not clear if the zombies ate it or not.

Do you guys go look?

Perception roll: 8+1=9 if I spot anything near the deer
“Well we came for the deer, and knew it wouldn’t be easy, let’s check it out... but let’s try and be quiet and stealthy”

(I reckon we should use group stealth rules, and to keep the pace, DM should roll)

[Doctor-Dash]

Laucien can scout ahead, and give a quiet hand signal from the ridge.

Stealth: 14+7=21
Perception (if necessary): 7+3=10

[Dr_Nimm]

Nice work. From up on the ridge you see the deer carcass.

Perfectly intact. Right next to it is the corpse of a zombie with its own throat next to it.

You figure the dog must have intercepted the gang of zombies before they pounced on the deer, killed a zombie, and then took off when they ganged up on him, and with the zombies idiotic impulse to chase, they forgot all about the deer.

The spirit of the hunt gave you great fortune today.

Zorg catches up, pounding noisily up behind you. Thorak, one may suppose, stayed back to watch the boats.
.

The deer is 75 feet away. No Murk in sight.

[Doctor-Dash]

Laucian attempts to lift the deer back to the boars with Zorg.
Athletics: 13+1=14

[Dr_Nimm]

The deer is large and fat. Laucien sling it across his shoulders, but the uphill climb with a full grown deer proves too much. It's a fatty!

Zorg takes over, uttering a constant stream of predictions about the imminent experience of consuming various parts of this animal, fixating in particular about the aspects of crunchy roasted skin.

[DM7581]

I am overlooking the ridge, with an impatient squint in my eye. I debate whether to go looking or to leave them if they take too long.

When they appear, I am a bit relieved as shown by an enormous grin.

Yes! The gods smile upon us today. We go, champions of our people. And then we FEAST!

I help ready the boats!

[Ketiara]

Tessanna smiles... FEAST! Its been soo long since she had deer!

[Dr_Nimm]

---------------
From behind you, a flock of geese are spooked, and burst out from the bushes below in mad honking flight. In the distance, a lone buck elk streaks madly across the landscape. To your left, a family of mink shoot out of their den and bolt down the ridge and into the brush near shore. Insects buzz past your ears in rapid succession. The dog, who faced a pack of zombies and an ogre, begins to whine and tremble.

You look at each other, perhaps hoping for reassurance that what you are starting to fear is not about to happen. Behind you, west of the ridge, in the hollows, among the pines, in the shadows of rocks, a growing darkness
slithers out with evil silence, it's bands swirling and combining seeming to roll ever forward while growing like a tidal wave. You watch this unfold not as much from fear as from a natural impulse to deny that something so terrible will actually happen to you, rather than other people. And you never thought it looked this beautiful, it moves as gracefully as a shark.

Slow at first, as if not wishing to scare you, the Murk glides lazily toward you.

[Ketiara]

---------------
From behind you, a flock of geese are spooked, and burst out from the bushes below in mad honking flight. In the distance, a lone buck elk streaks madly across the landscape. To your left, a family of mink shoot out of their den and bolt down the ridge and into the brush near shore. Insects buzz past your ears in rapid succession. The dog, who faced a pack of zombies and an ogre, begins to whine and tremble.

You look at each other, perhaps hoping for reassurance that what you are starting to fear is not about to happen. Behind you, west of the ridge, in the hollows, among the pines, in the shadows of rocks, a growing darkness
slithers out with evil silence, it's bands swirling and combining seeming to roll ever forward while growing like a tidal wave. You watch this unfold not as much from fear as from a natural impulse to deny that something so terrible will actually happen to you, rather than other people. And you never thought it looked this beautiful, it moves as gracefully as a shark.

Slow at first, as if not wishing to scare you, the Murk glides lazily toward you.

"Murk! Everyone rush to the boat"

(how far are we from the boats now, how far away is the murk? how fast is it moving? and how fast can Zorg move with the deer on his back)

Tessanna shouts down to whoever stayed behind at the boat.

"Ready the boat, we are rushing out of here"

[DM7581]

I push off the boat, but not too far as to leave the others. They’ll have to trudge through some water is all.

C’mon!

If Zorg is dragging, I tell him to drop the deer. That would suck.

[Doctor-Dash]

Laucian dashes to the boat as quick as he can. He has an idea he's been wanting to test, and now that the spooky little girl has outed her magical abilities, maybe now is the time... but getting into the boat is the first priority.

[Ketiara]

Laucian dashes to the boat as quick as he can. He has an idea he's been wanting to test, and now that the spooky little girl has outed her magical abilities, maybe now is the time... but getting into the boat is the first priority.

Goes without saying that if everything is just rushing, then Tessanna is moving as fast as possible... But if Zorg is lagging behind due to the weight of the deer Tessanna may have one trick left and will be waiting for him, before he should drop the feast and make a run for it.

[Dr_Nimm]

Run! You all dash down the ridge, Zorg slowly falling behind and starting to pant. You make it halfway to the boat when you see the Murk finally crested up over the ridge, apparently in no hurry to kill you.

You figure you will surely make it to the boats at this pace, even Zorg who is about 15 feet behind you.

The Murk unleashes it's most feared aspect: The Keening. Sounds all at once of awful things as if hearing hell. The screams of a man being burned alive. The low, subsonic growl of a malevolent deep sea creature. A dying child. The sound of worms coming out of your skin, while someone chews raw meat right next to your ear. Bone after bone snapping under the skin. The cackle of a mad woman raking her nails across her face.

All of you, even Thorak near shore, are charmed by the Keening. The Murk now seems a welcome relief, offering a permanent cure for the hideous sensations overcoming you. The pain will be no more, there will be only black in the Murk.

Zorg and the dog are unaffected somehow. Zorg knows there's something wrong with his new and perhaps only friends. Terribly, he pauses and wastes valuable seconds thinking with his slow mind as the Murk approaches. Zorg finally drops the deer and lifts both Tessania and Laucien over either shoulder, stumbles over to shore and tosses them in the lake. The icy water breaks the spell and they begin to come around. Zorg dumps Thorak into the lake by tipping over the boat.

You three regain yourselves just in time to see Zorg running toward the Murk. You shout at him to return, hurl spells, insults, threats, to no avail. He has no plan, no big picture. His entire life's purpose condensed into this one task. He drops his ax and shoulders the deer with the Murk towering up behind him just barely out of arms reach. He runs a few steps and the Murk envelops him.

[DM7581]

Zorg! No!

I wait a while... maybe too long. Someone else might have to get us rowing.

[Ketiara]

Run! You all dash down the ridge, Zorg slowly falling behind and starting to pant. You make it halfway to the boat when you see the Murk finally crested up over the ridge, apparently in no hurry to kill you.

You figure you will surely make it to the boats at this pace, even Zorg who is about 15 feet behind you.

The Murk unleashes it's most feared aspect: The Keening. Sounds all at once of awful things as if hearing hell. The screams of a man being burned alive. The low, subsonic growl of a malevolent deep sea creature. A dying child. The sound of worms coming out of your skin, while someone chews raw meat right next to your ear. Bone after bone snapping under the skin. The cackle of a mad woman raking her nails across her face.

All of you, even Thorak near shore, are charmed by the Keening. The Murk now seems a welcome relief, offering a permanent cure for the hideous sensations overcoming you. The pain will be no more, there will be only black in the Murk.

Zorg and the dog are unaffected somehow. Zorg knows there's something wrong with his new and perhaps only friends. Terribly, he pauses and wastes valuable seconds thinking with his slow mind as the Murk approaches. Zorg finally drops the deer and lifts both Tessania and Laucien over either shoulder, stumbles over to shore and tosses them in the lake. The icy water breaks the spell and they begin to come around. Zorg dumps Thorak into the lake by tipping over the boat.

You three regain yourselves just in time to see Zorg running toward the Murk. You shout at him to return, hurl spells, insults, threats, to no avail. He has no plan, no big picture. His entire life's purpose condensed into this one task. He drops his ax and shoulders the deer with the Murk towering up behind him just barely out of arms reach. He runs a few steps and the Murk envelops him.

Tessanna overcome by panic and sorrow but still contain some kind of Intelligence.. and apparently she is inspired and rolls an 18+3 arcana = 21

Now the second consern hits her... staying alive in the cold water with her wet clothes dragging her down!
HELP HELP!

[Doctor-Dash]

He barely realizes, but once he does, Laucian stops screaming. He looks around, making sure Tessana and Thorak are nearby, and hops into the boat. He doesn't say a word, but offers a hand to Tessana, then Thorak.

[DM7581]

I look at the situation. Lost. Hopeless. The grin I typically wear turns into a frown. Everyone almost hears a growl. I grab Tessana and help her onto the boat. Then a let out a gruff grunt and climb aboard myself. My eyes never leave the Murk. I stare into it as we row away.

Today we do not celebrate. Tonight we do not feast. We have lost a brother in arms to this... corrupt mist. We will mourn him and honor his memory. He fought bravely and saved us all.

My demeanor turns a bit sour. I remain quiet the rest of the way back.

[Dr_Nimm]

"CRISPY SKIN AWRW!" Zorg leaps out of the Murk three seconds after being enveloped, covered in blood, plunging into the lake grinning broadly despite somehow acquiring lacerations and burns all over his body. His face has three rows of horizontal slashes going from nose to ear, the scars which will remain to the end of his days.

You're not sure how he is alive. Perhaps because he was only at the very edge for a moment. Yet in three seconds he acquired all these injuries with no discernible cause.

You haul him up onto the boats. The Murk has grown colossal, hundreds of feet wide, lingering across the entire west shore, seeming to watch you with casual hostility. It is an eerie sight.

You grab the other boat safely. As you're rowing back home, you realize a fatal flaw in your hunt.

From Tessania firebolt, The deer has a charred, tunneled burnt hole in its body from rib to heart. It would be obvious to anyone other than Zorg that it is of unnatural origin...