The Crusade Against the Shade [IC] (GROUP 1)

[Regord_Silentflame]

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Well, that's very nice of you all I suppose, but none of you have actually "left" yet, so I've been waiting for you to finish your conversations with eachother and actually...leave

[MountainKing]

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Well, that's very nice of you all I suppose, but none of you have actually "left" yet, so I've been waiting for you to finish your conversations with eachother and actually...leave

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Robilard is TRYING to.

[MammonAzrael]

Simon

"Well then, what are we waiting for? Lets get a move! I would hate to think of something horrible happening to a farm wife, especially under my watch!"

And with that, Simon heads out the gate and starts up the road (completely not noticing that he has no idea where this farm house is!)

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

Plumm urges Gruffix to top speed and darts just ahead of the scholar, showing him the way as best he can reckon it from the directions he was given. He'll continue on till he sees either the tall house, someone in need of help or some sign of danger.

[Miraqariftsky]

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(1d20+1)[15] Spot
(1d20+1)[13] More Spot
(1d20+1)[21] And yet more Spot
(1d20+1)[9] And another Spot check...
(1d20+1)[16] Yer mad and yer seeing things! Go to a doctor already, dagnabbit!

Vingsturr huffs out and runs outside the gate but his stubby legs have no hope of catching up with his longshanked companions. Twirling his hammer every so often, he settles into patrolling the road just outside the town's gates, pacing restlessly, searching the horizon for signs of their return... or the assault of the undead.

[Regord_Silentflame]

Plumm out-paces his scholarly companion, noticing the house just before he'd lost sight of Simon completely. The house was fine, and there were no undead to be seen. But the smell! For anyone who had ever been near a dead corpse before, they would know at once that it was the horrid stench of rotting flesh carried on the slow breeze, coming from the hills to the west.

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For the sake of arguement, since I know Robilard was TRYING to leave, I'm going to assume he's right beside Plumm.

[MountainKing]

"Ugh! What a stench!" Robilard exclaims, "Quickly, Cyreon! We're almost there!" The entire ride, Robilard had spent clutching the horse-shaped druid's neck desperately; he had little expirience with riding horses, and had really only what grace he bore through virtue of his dexterity to stay seated. Self consciously, the bard attempted to bury his nose in Cyreon's mane, hoping to protect his senses from the scent of carrion without the druid noticing.

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Bluff check to disguise his hiding of his nose as just desperate clinging to Cyreon's neck. I think I can do that, not that it's really a big deal... I'm just kind of tipsy at the moment, so please pardon my spelling. And rambling. Rolling dice now...

(1d20+13)[17]

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

"Peeee-yu!" Exclaims the gnome as he catches the scent on the wind. "It's like they're dead and gassy! I hope we've come in time..."

He jumps off of his dog's back as he approaches the house, tripping and somersaulting as he lands and just about slamming into the door. "Oof! Ummm.. you in there Missus? It's just us, completely alive - we're here to help you!"

Plumm alternates between rapping on the door and jumping up and down trying to see through the windows.

[Regord_Silentflame]

"I'm here. Come in"

[Silkenfist]

Cyreon maintains his shape, not stepping in yet. He bows down to the Leopard, uttering a small sequence of sneers. We wait outside, Cali. Our friends will bring out the one for us to protect.

[Another_Poet]

Plumm enters, shielding his face with one hand and asking, "Are you decent, ma'am?"

[MountainKing]

Just as Plumm opens the door, Robilard half falls with what is probably the most grace anyone could muster when falling off a horse, and lands with a rather undignified thud on his rear. Hopping upright, Robilard pats Cyreon on the neck.

"You'll be bearing the missus back without me atop you, Cyreon. I've a trick or three to keep up with a running horse!" With that, the bard approached the door, biting his nip nervously... something felt... amiss.

[MammonAzrael]

Simon

"Someday, I've really got to get myself a horse...or maybe a pegasus...or a griffin...it sure would be better than always running everywhere. I really have to remember that this time..." Simon huffs along easily, slowly approaching the house in the distance when he gets the whiff of undead. It's coming from the east, and not the house, so he speeds up a bit to get there before anything else does.

[Regord_Silentflame]

"Who is it? where's my husband?"

[MountainKing]

"Madam, please, my name is Robilard Dunland, and we've come to rescue you. The shambling horde has returned to your fair lands once again, and your husband came to town seeking aid in retrieving you hastily! We do not have time for questions or further introductions, so if you would please come with us, we can be off!"

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Diplomacy check to get the woman's arse in gear!
(1d20+15)[22]

[Regord_Silentflame]

She groans, slowly getting to her feet
"I appreciate the help, but I really could not walk all the way to town from here, I'm just too heavy!"

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

Plumm still has his eyes shielded in case she isn't decent, and he stumbles about the room bumping into things. "No ma'am, we have a horse! And a dog... but probably best for you to take the horse." He frowns. "You are human, right?"

[MountainKing]

"Indeed ma'am, we have brought our good friend Cyreon with us, who has obliged us in the service as a steed! Come, Plumm and I will assist you onto his back, and do not fear! Cyreon will not permit you to fall!"

With that, Robilard began to hustle the woman discretely by helping her remain steady as she walks, followed by helping Plumm get her onto the horse (or rather, having Plumm help him get her onto Cyreon, for even if the druid stooped low, the plucky gnome would not be of a great deal of assistance).

[Another_Poet]

Plumm helps as best he can. "It's not bad for the baby to ride a horse, is it?" he asks.

[Regord_Silentflame]

"I think it would be worse for the baby to be eaten by zombies" she says exasperated, getting very difficultly onto Cyreon's back.

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

The gnome seems relieved when the woman is safely onto the horse, and more than a little exhausted from helping to get her up there. He wipes the sweat from his brow and clambers onto Gruffix, looking sceptically at the now-mountless bard and the pregnant rider. "I um... How do I lead this thing?" He wonders aloud before remembering it is no ordinary horse. "CYREON!" He calls, speaking loudly and slowly like he's talking to a deaf person. "CAN YOU HEAR ME? WE NEED TO GO BACK TO TOWN NOW!"

[MammonAzrael]

Simon

Jogging up just as they're hoisting the woman onto Cyreon, Simon waves and smiles. "Hey there, hope you're doing alright. The road is pretty much clear for the moment, so let start heading back!" With that he turns around and starts jogging right back to the village.

[MountainKing]

"Simon?!" Robilard cried incredulously as the absent minded scholar appeared, "By the gods, what are you doing here?! Qui- no, get over here! You're mad, you know that?!" Robilard started jogging after Simon, calling back to Cyreon and his passenger, "Never fear m'lady, Cyreon will bear you gently!"

"Simon! Gods above and below, SIMON!" When at last the bard got Simon's attention, Robilard had an exasperated expression on his face.

[MammonAzrael]

Simon

A good 20 squares down the road, he realizes that Robliard has been yelling at him since he caught up. Simon turns around to see whats wrong, "What is it? I thought we were to get this lady back tot he confines of the village wall?"

[Silkenfist]

Cyreon starts a slow trot, carefully testing how quickly he can be without the woman on his back shaking too vigorously. He snorts and nods to Plumm, trying to wink as he starts the return to the city.

[MountainKing]

"Yes!" Robilard says, exasperation apparent in his voice, "But unless I am mistaken, you are somewhat ill-suited for fleeing from the undead on foot! Start running, Simon- NOW! I will remain by your side, and if we are set upon, I will try and distract the shambling horde!"

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Simon! Run away, run away!

[MountainKing]

"Yes!" Robilard says, exasperation apparent in his voice, "But unless I am mistaken, you are somewhat ill-suited for fleeing from the undead on foot! Start running, Simon- NOW! I will remain by your side, and if we are set upon, I will try and distract the shambling horde!"

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Simon! Run away, run away!

[MammonAzrael]

Simon

Simon stares at Robilard confused for several moments. "But these are wandering zombies and should be easily out runnable, even on foot. Besides, their stench is coming from the west, and we should have no trouble keeping ahead of them. Truly, the lady should be easily safe."

...
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...

"Oh, yes! We should get moving now, shouldn't we?" And with that Simon turns 'round again and continues jogging back towards the village.

[Regord_Silentflame]

Almost as if speaking of them caused them to rise from the ground, over the hills to the west a huge mass of graying flesh rises into view. The dead are advancing at a very slow rate, but they are coming with an ominous inevitability.

[Another_Poet]

Plumm

Seeing the horde, Plumm urges Gruffix up to the two men on foot, but keeps his eye on Cyreon up ahead to make sure he is escaping with the pregnant woman.