7: What do you mean our guide is dead?!

[Ebiris]

[16:23] <@Ebiris> Miranda has been pulled safely from the water that now sloshes thickly with blood and ichor from both the freshly killed crabs and the humanoids who dared to challenge their aquatic mastery. Nonetheless she remains insensate, cold and pale in the dimly flickering lamplight in this sagging chamber deep within the earth. The south of the room remains dominated by water and debris, what may have once been a pier now thoroughly rotten and broken planks of wood floating amidst the rubble of some collapse that tumbled down from the inadequately supported ceiling, blocking off that section of the room past the water pool.
[16:23] <@Ebiris> From the door to the West, opposite the one you entered by, a more deep and rhythmic watery noise is heard, regularly rising and receding every few seconds. Two doors mark the North edge of the room, the westmost broken and lying ajar while the other remains closed. A fifth and final door lies just North of the one by which you entered, similarly closed and bearing no clues as to what it conceals.
[16:24] <@Rudy> "This," says Rudy, frowning, "Is a problem."
[16:25] <@Henrietta> "If this is the base of the smugglers and where they were staying, then there must be some means to treat their wounded," Henrietta reasons. "I'll bet on there being any here, and vote for exploring the rest of the complex. Who is with me?"
[16:26] <@Miranda_Altair> Meanwhile, Como the raven is flying around Miranda in circles, making an unholy racket!
[16:26] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception everyone
[16:26] <@Glenn> "We might be better off returning back home and making sure if we come back we come back with some potions. If we meet any more difficulties, we might have problems with just the three of us..." Glenn notes.
[16:26] <@Rudy> "I was thinking of going to go check on our guide first," replies Rudy. "He's probably dead, but..."
[16:27] <@Rudy> roll 1d20
[16:27] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20 and gets 12." [1d20=12]
[16:27] <@Glenn> roll d20+6
[16:27] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 and gets 25." [d20=19]
[16:27] <@Henrietta> "Stop th--" Henrietta tells the raven sternly, before whirling towards Rudy. "Dead? What? Why?!"
[16:27] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:27] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 22." [1d20=20]
[16:27] <@Rudy> "Well, my guess is that he got shot or something, then fell down that hole. Take a certain kind of man to survive that drop," replies Rudy, blinking. "Didn't you hear?"
[16:28] -> *Glenn* It's hard to hear over the ruckus the bird is making, but just a few seconds after it starts screeching you can hear a faintly echoing groaning noise coming from the East. It's hard to tell with the echoes, but you think there's more than one source.
[16:28] <@Henrietta> "Ah, no?"
[16:28] -> *Henrietta* It's hard to hear over the ruckus the bird is making, but just a few seconds after it starts screeching you can hear a faintly echoing groaning noise coming from the East. It's hard to tell with the echoes, but you think there's more than one source.
[16:28] <@Rudy> "He screamed!"
[16:29] <@Henrietta> "I was leading the way! I was busy looking for danger ahead, someone else was to be covering our backs!" Henrietta not quie snaps. She takes a deep breath. "We must return, of course. Glenn, can you carr Miranda with you?"
[16:29] <@Glenn> "I'm hearing some different noises. It sounds like some groaning. I'd almost guess it's our guide making it known he survived the fall, but I think I hear more than one groan..." Glenn comments with a frown, before glaring at the raven. "Oh shut up, you damn bird! We can't do much for your master if we die too!"
[16:30] * @Henrietta briskly starts walking back towards the pit through which they entered this complex, listening for the groans.
[16:30] <@Glenn> Glenn nods to Henrietta. "I can carry her, yes. I'm a little concerned about those groans, but Miranda is probably our stronger priority right now..."
[16:31] <@Rudy> "Well, we're not full of holes. I'd say our backs were covered," mutters Rudy, starting after Henrietta.
[16:31] <@Miranda_Altair> Como lets out one last grating caw before settling down on Miranda's face. He stares beadily up at Glenn.
[16:32] <@Henrietta> "Right." She nods curtly. "I'll try to cover what's ahead of us. Look after whatever might sneak up on us from behind?"
[16:32] <@Ebiris> Back in the hallway with the partially ajar double-doors to the East, the groaning noises become more noticable... it almost sounds like they're coming from all around, yet nonetheless quiet as if from a great distance. The acoustics down here are plainly no help, causing sounds to echo and carry strangely.
[16:32] <@Glenn> He nods again as he picks up Miranda carefully.
[16:32] * @Henrietta heads towards their entrance first.
[16:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: anyone taking Miranda's lantern?
[16:33] <@Glenn> ooc: I'm carrying Miranda, she's heavy enough. So not I.
[16:33] <@Henrietta> OOC: Oh geez I'll grab it then
[16:34] * Kotono is now known as Kokokokokoko
[16:34] <@Ebiris> With a lantern to light the way, Henrietta is able to backtrack to the shaft they entered by. It's now fully dark otherwise, no light coming from above. At the bottom, lying in a pool of blood with his head at an altogether unhealthy angle lies Shefton, his face frozen in a gaze of pain and fear. Henrietta's rope lies coiled over him, as if it fell.
[16:35] <@Henrietta> Her face contorting into a grimace, Henrietta tries to check all the same if he is still alive somehow, despite all appearances to the contrary.
[16:36] <@Ebiris> He's cold, not breathing, and doesn't respond at all to any kind of poking or prodding. Safe to say he's dead.
[16:37] <@Ebiris> Seems to have a rather nasty stab wound around his kidney in addition to the obvious problem of his neck, from which all the blood flowed. His filthy leather armour clearly no protection there.
[16:37] <@Henrietta> Trying to distance her thoughts from their guide's sad death, Henrietta coils her rope, storing it away. "Let's look at the other door," she says briefly, returning into the first corridor and choosing the other path.
[16:38] <@Rudy> "They shut the trapdoor, too," mutters Rudy, eyeing Shefton's body uneasily. "Vanthus doesn't seem a friendly type, huh."
[16:39] <@Henrietta> "There has to be another entrance," Henrietta repeats her earlier statement. "And if it comes to that, I'll get us out through this one. I can smash it open."
[16:39] <@Glenn> "Great, and he knows we're here probably. While we have Miranda in this condition, and your pet is still outside hacking her guts. If we make it through this, Lady Vanderboren owes us a big bonus..." Glenn mutters.
[16:40] <@Henrietta> "Because we lost to crabs? CRABS?!" Henrietta exclaims at last. "I hope to all the fake gods in this world and beyond that this is never spoken of again for as long as I live!"
[16:41] <@Rudy> "Do the acid thing, you aren't gonna smash anything while clinging to the wall," replies Rudy, keeping his crossbow ready for any incursions. "Hey, no shame in losing to those crabs! Big as a man, they were!" insists Rudy. "Claws as big as carts!"
[16:41] * @Henrietta shudders, and tries to get the door open.
[16:42] <@Miranda_Altair> Flapping away, Como follows Glenn.
[16:43] <@Ebiris> As Henrietta approaches the eastern door on the first hallway, the groaning sounds very close - as in, right on the other side of that door close. Indeed that's all the warning she gets before the door creaks open and you're accosted! He looks human, but far deader than Miranda or Shefton, his skin rotten and partially sloughed off to expose bone beneath, wearing scraps of ancient cloth and leather. "Grrhh... food..." he moans upon seeing Henrietta, opening his mouth into a terrifying rictus grin to expose a huge maw of jagged shark-like teeth! Two more just like him are seen in the flickering lamplight of the room beyond, approaching the doorway!
[16:43] <@Glenn> "We don't have to say it was crabs! Just say it was while fighting here, trying to get to her brother! Totally true stuff!" Glenn protests.
[16:43] <@Ebiris> OOC: time for initiative
[16:43] <@Ebiris> roll 3#1d20
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 3#1d20 and gets 38." [3#1d20 = 20, 17, 1]
[16:43] <@Glenn> roll d20+4
[16:43] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+4 and gets 8." [d20=4]
[16:43] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+2
[16:44] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+2 and gets 14." [1d20=12]
[16:44] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 oh god!
[16:44] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 oh god! and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[16:44] <@Glenn> "Oh come on! Where are all these things coming from? If Shefton wasn't dead, I think -I'd- kill him for leading us into this place!" Glenn protests as he sees the freaky creatures.
[16:45] <@Miranda_Altair> roll 1d20+2
[16:45] * +Hatbot --> "Miranda_Altair rolls 1d20+2 and gets 6." [1d20=4]
[16:45] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Zombie 1 > Zombie 2 > Henrietta > Rudy > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3'
[16:46] <@Ebiris> Shambling forward, the lead zombie flails at Henrietta. His rotten and feeble arms don't seem too much danger, but that's merely the forewarning of his mouth lunging forward to take a bite, fetid breath overwhelming her!
[16:46] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[16:47] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 16." [1d20=12]
[16:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: AC?
[16:47] <@Henrietta> OOC: flatfooted, 14; normal, 16
[16:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+2
[16:48] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+2 and gets 5." [1d4=3]
[16:48] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 CMB check to grab you, what's your CMD?
[16:48] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 CMB check to grab you, what's your CMD? and gets 5." [1d20=1]
[16:48] <@Henrietta> OOC: 15
[16:51] <@Ebiris> While Henrietta is able to shove the undead away before it can really sink its teeth in, it nonetheless manages to tear off a strip of skin from her upper arm in the tussle, sucking down blood and skin like a man dying of thirst. "Good.... more!" it groans hungrily! Behind it another similarly filthy undead staggers into view, entering the hallway to threaten Henrietta even more, but fortunately not quick enough to take a bite of its own!
[16:51] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[16:51] * @Henrietta screams shrilly!
[16:52] <@Henrietta> "My arm! It ate my arm! What in the name of all that is logical?!"
[16:52] * @Henrietta flees!
[16:52] <@Ebiris> OOC: which direction? Crab room or shaft?
[16:52] <@Henrietta> OOC: Back, 20ft
[16:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: just before the crab room, then. Ok. Rudy?
[16:55] <@Rudy> Clenching his fists, Rudy wills the black tattoos on his face to once again enlarge into the form of a vicious hound! He doesn't plan to stick around, however, and opts to dash after Henrietta whilst the noble mutt attempts to give the zombie a taste of it's own medicine!
[16:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+2 chomp
[16:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+2 chomp and gets 19." [1d20=17]
[16:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+1
[16:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+1 and gets 2." [1d4=1]
[16:57] <@Ebiris> The hound takes a bite out of zombie crime, tearing the monster's leg to the bone but barely seeming to phase it anyway!
[16:57] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[16:57] * Retrieving #dunes modes...
[16:57] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Zombie 1 > Zombie 2 > Henrietta > Rudy=Dog > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3'
[16:58] <@Glenn> Glenn attempts to mix some chemicals as best he can given the mostly-dead weight on his shoulders, before throwing the vial of volatile and explosive chemicals at the zombie by the door, hoping to kill it with fire as well as keeping the third from coming in before following after his smarter companions, albeit much more slowly given the weight on his back. (OOC: any attack penalty for throwing while Miranda's on my back?)
[16:58] <@Ebiris> OOC: what's your current str and what does Miranda weigh?
[16:58] <@Glenn> ooc: Str 12, and Miranda is a poor hooker. She's probably anorexic.
[16:59] <@Glenn> ooc: oh, she has a weight...54kg!
[17:00] <@Glenn> ooc: She puts me at a medium load from light load.
[17:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: oddly heavy weight only messes up your dex as it applies to AC. So you've only got +1 dex to AC, and -6 armour check penalty, but your ranged attack is unaffected
[17:01] <@Glenn> ooc: eww, dex is my biggest source of AC! I must dump the dead-weight! But maybe later. >_>
[17:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: max speed 15, mind you
[17:02] <@Glenn> roll d20+6 bombs away
[17:02] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 bombs away and gets 19." [d20=13]
[17:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:02] <@Glenn> roll d6+5 fire damage, and 6 splash damage to anything nearby (reflex DC 15 halves splash damage)
[17:02] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+5 fire damage, and 6 splash damage to anything nearby (reflex DC 15 halves splash damage) and gets 10." [d6=5]
[17:02] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20
[17:03] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[17:03] <@Ebiris> OOC: oh, reflex for Rudy's dog too
[17:04] <@Rudy> OOC: resists fire 5!!1
[17:04] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+3
[17:04] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+3 and gets 20." [1d20=17]
[17:04] <@Glenn> ooc: I was targetting the one by the door, reminder, not the one attacking Henrietta. I was hoping to get the door to cave in or some such so we only have to deal with two zombies at worst.
[17:04] <@Ebiris> OOC There were two by the door, one of which attacked Henrietta. The other one is still back in the other room
[17:05] <@Glenn> ooc: oh, I misunderstood distance. thought they were all a bit apart. Okay
[17:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: it's a small corridor
[17:05] <@Glenn> ooc: *nods* my mistke.
[17:05] <@Ebiris> The zombie that bit Henrietta is consumed by Glenn's flames, lighting up the subterranean hellhole as its ragged remaining flesh goes up in smoke! Its hungry moans cease as it collapses in smouldering ruin! The one beside it catches comparitively less flames but is still badly burnt, while Rudy's dog endures the inferno with calm dignity!
[17:05] <@Ebiris> OOC: Como
[17:07] <@Miranda_Altair> Como sits on Glenn's shoulder, calmly watching the fight.
[17:08] <@Ebiris> The last visible zombie shambles into the corridor, stepping over the smouldering pile of bones that remains of the first and lunging down to bite Rudy's canine companion!
[17:08] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[17:08] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 12." [1d20=8]
[17:08] <@Ebiris> OOC: dog AC?
[17:09] <@Rudy> OOC: 13!
[17:09] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Zombie 2 > Henrietta > Rudy=Dog > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3'
[17:10] <@Ebiris> With a little hop to the side, the dog avoids this near attack, but puts itself right in the path of the remaining upright but burnt undead horror!
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[17:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 16." [1d20=12]
[17:10] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+2
[17:10] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+2 and gets 6." [1d4=4]
[17:11] <@Ebiris> A single bite to the jugular takes out the dog, which vanishes in a burst of black slime! The zombie groans in disappointment at this development before shambling onwards, getting right in Glenn's face! "So... hungry!" it moans wretchedly, staring at him with rheumy white eyes over a mouth full of blackened and jagged teeth!
[17:11] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:12] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Zombie 2 > Henrietta > Rudy > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3'
[17:14] <@Henrietta> Her right arm hangs uselessly by her side and her eyes are filled with tears, but Henrietta still steps forward in determination, summoning a vine whip within her left hand and swinging it towards the last zombie's feet!
[17:14] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 trip
[17:14] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+8 trip and gets 9." [1d20=1]
[17:14] <@Henrietta> OOC: I see. I'm 15ft away.
[17:15] <@Ebiris> It's hard to aim in the flickering lamplight, and Henrietta's vine-whip fails to properly connect, only slapping weakly at the rotten figure's hip before receding!
[17:15] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:17] <@Rudy> Rudy winds up stuck between Henrietta and the zombie, and points his crossbow at the menacing corpse in a moment! "Ain't no Myra," he mutters, firing a bolt into the burned-up monster!
[17:17] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 twang
[17:17] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 twang and gets 12." [1d20=7]
[17:17] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit
[17:17] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[17:17] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 and gets 2." [1d8=1]
[17:18] <@Ebiris> The bolt lands with a satisfying meaty *thwock* right in the zombie's chest, surely perforating its vile black heart! All it garners however is a shuddering moan from the abominable thing, it's smouldering and charred head turning to regard Rudy with an alien and unfeeling gaze...
[17:18] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:18] <@Glenn> Glenn continues moving backwards in the tunnel, and away from the zombie, even if he knows he won't outrun it, before throwing another volatile bomb at the closest of the two remaining undead. The less chance it has to bite on Miranda (let alone him), the better.
[17:18] <@Glenn> roll d20+6 bombs away
[17:19] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 bombs away and gets 12." [d20=6]
[17:19] <@Ebiris> OOC: going back into the crab-room, Glenn?
[17:20] <@Glenn> ooc: If that's the only way to go, then yes. I just want to put distance between myself and the zombies right now.
[17:20] <@Ebiris> OOC: okay, hit
[17:21] <@Glenn> roll d6+5
[17:21] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d6+5 and gets 6." [d6=1]
[17:21] <@Glenn> ooc: and the 6 splash damage also with DC 15 reflex halves.
[17:22] <@Ebiris> The flames take to the already smouldering zombie with ease, igniting it in a sudden gush that barely gives it time to react before its warped form tumbles to the grimy floor in a jangling pile of blackened bone!
[17:24] <@Ebiris> The last remaining visible zombie opens its mouth wide and lunges forward, crossing the passageway to reach Rudy and Henrietta who bravely hold the line against the undead horde while Glenn and Miranda take shelter behind! It targets the already bloodied Henrietta, sensing an easy meal perhaps?
[17:24] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[17:24] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[17:24] <@Henrietta> OOC: AC16
[17:25] <@Ebiris> She's able to ward it away with her lantern, as a loud wooden crash is heard behind the duo! Out in the flooded chamber, Glenn can see another zombie making its presence known in battering open the door just to the North of the one into the passage where all the action is, staggering out in an undead flanking action!
[17:25] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Henrietta > Rudy > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3 > Zombie 4'
[17:25] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:26] * @Henrietta steps back with a grim determination and the knowledge that she cannot keep running. Another vine whip appears in her left hand, and she attempts to finally drop this unnatural creature to the ground!
[17:27] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+8 trip?
[17:27] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+8 trip? and gets 28." [1d20=20]
[17:27] <@Ebiris> OOC: hit. Does it autotrip or do you need to roll CMB as well?
[17:28] <@Henrietta> OOC: From my understanding I roll CMB vs their CMD
[17:28] <@Ebiris> The vine works this time, snaring around the already unstable figure's feet and suddenly binding them tight! It doesn't even have the reflexes to flail its arms to keep balance, merely tottering over and arcing into the ground at Rudy's feet like a fallen tree!
[17:28] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:29] <@Henrietta> "There!" Henrietta points at the animated body. "Have a dog eat it for a change! Let's see how it likes it!"
[17:30] <@Rudy> "This.. hurts.. so... much..." replies Rudy, backing up a step and gritting his teeth before another dog is unleashed from his blackening skin!
[17:31] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+2+4 dogbite
[17:31] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+2+4 dogbite and gets 25." [1d20=19]
[17:31] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+1
[17:31] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+1  and gets 5." [1d4=4]
[17:32] <@Ebiris> The dog's fangs sink easily into the zombie's neck, wrenching and pulling at its prone foe with uncommon viciousness! Yet the unholy thing endures a mauling that would surely break an ordinary man, showing the same resilience that kept it walking beyond the grave!
[17:32] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:33] <@Glenn> "Oh for the love of...More zombies? I don't care if the crabs were embarassing, I'm asking for a bonus for fighting undead," Glenn complains as he sets down Miranda as best he can without just dropping her and moves to meet the new zombie, hoping Rudy and Henrietta can handle the other one on their own. (OOC: can I get an attack in, or used standard action setting down Miranda?)
[17:33] <@Ebiris> OOC: you can drop something as a free action. I'll say a move action to put her down gently.
[17:34] <@Miranda_Altair> Como settles down on Miranda, keeping watch.
[17:34] <@Glenn> ooc: I wanted to put her down gently, so I'm using two move actions instead of move/standard then. No attack from me.
[17:35] <@Ebiris> As Glenn moves to intercept the unholy flanker, the groundborne zombie doesn't even bother to push itself up, merely twisting in a manner that defies mortal muscle placement and snapping its jaws in retaliation at the hound!
[17:35] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20
[17:35] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20 and gets 9." [1d20=9]
[17:36] <@Ebiris> To no avail, however, the canny canine just to fast for it! Meanwhile Glenn's foe rises to the challenge, weak arms trying to grab hold of him as its oversized maw bears down to devour the alchemist's augmented flesh!
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4
[17:36] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 and gets 23." [1d20=19]
[17:36] <@Ebiris> roll 1d4+2
[17:36] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d4+2 and gets 5." [1d4=3]
[17:36] <@Glenn> ooc: miss actually. AC 20 without Miranda.
[17:36] * Quits: @Henrietta (~corwin@p11811120.orange.net.il) (Ping timeout)
[17:36] <@Ebiris> OOC: 23 > 20?
[17:37] <@Glenn> ooc: oh blah, I saw 19. my fault
[17:37] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 CMB check, what's your CMD?
[17:37] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 CMB check, what's your CMD? and gets 17." [1d20=13]
[17:38] <@Glenn> ooc: It's 15 pre-mutagen, but lemme see if it goes up with that. One sec
[17:38] <@Glenn> ooc: 17
[17:40] <@Ebiris> Despite Glenn's artificially enhanced performance, the necromantic energies powering this unholy abomination seem to be more than up to the challenge! Latching its jaws around his shoulder, it clamps on hard and doesn't let go, tearing at his flesh and noisily swallowing torn skin and blood as it holds him in a charnel embrace!
[17:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: you're grappled
[17:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta's holding, so go Rudy
[17:40] * Yomi is now known as Henrietta
[17:40] <@Ebiris> OOC: You can go before Rudy, then!
[17:41] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Henrietta > Rudy=Dog > Glenn > Como > Zombie 3 > Zombie 4'
[17:41] <@Glenn> "Let go!" Glenn exclaims as he attempts to struggle, panicking a bit at the zombie's action.
[17:42] <@Henrietta> With a scream of pain, Henrietta drops Miranda's lamp and grasps her flail with both hands and tries her utmost to cave the zombie's head in!
[17:42] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+4
[17:42] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+4 and gets 10." [1d20=6]
[17:43] <@Henrietta> roll 1d10+4
[17:43] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d10+4 and gets 12." [1d10=8]
[17:43] <@Ebiris> roll 1d100
[17:43] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d100 and gets 100." [1d100=100]
[17:45] <@Ebiris> Her father's flail finds the mark, crashing down hard enough to go right through the zombie's skull and crack the stone underneath as she annihilates the monster's entire head, its body immediately goes still! Yet from the sounds behind her coming from Glenn and his messy eater of a playmate, the battle still rages!
[17:45] * Ebiris changes topic to 'Henrietta > Rudy=Dog > Glenn > Como > Zombie 4'
[17:45] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy
[17:45] <@Rudy> Rudy's dog leaps to the rescue, followed in short order by another bolt from his bow!
[17:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 dog charge!
[17:45] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 dog charge! and gets 24." [1d20=20]
[17:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 shooting!
[17:45] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 shooting! and gets 18." [1d20=13]
[17:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+1 dog
[17:45] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+1 dog and gets 4." [1d4=3]
[17:45] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1 me
[17:45] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1 me and gets 5." [1d8=4]
[17:46] <@Ebiris> OOC: can crit undead
[17:46] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4 really? cool
[17:46] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 really? cool and gets 9." [1d20=5]
[17:47] <@Ebiris> Both attacks find their mark, the dog quickly going to work in savaging the zombie's leg while a crossbow bolt embeds itself deeply in the side of the thing's head! Yet none of this deters it from the mission of devouring Glenn's succulent flesh! Clearly the alchemist has to save himself!
[17:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn
[17:48] <@Glenn> Glenn continues to struggle, trying to free himself in desperation, very much uncomfortable with being locked in the grasp of something so foul! Sure, he could bite it, but who in their right mind bites something undead? ...Hopefully Rudy's distraction will make it loosen it's hold.
[17:48] <@Glenn> roll 20+1 oh god CMB
[17:48] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls 20+1 oh god CMB and gets 21."
[17:48] <@Glenn> roll d20+1 oh god CMB
[17:48] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+1 oh god CMB and gets 12." [d20=11]
[17:50] <@Ebiris> The creature has a tenacious grip, more than Glenn can endure to break it! Groaning in need and hunger, the mockery of mankind holds on tighter, its teeth biting and worrying his flesh as it works through his shoulder towards his neck!
[17:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+4 CMB
[17:50] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+4 CMB and gets 13." [1d20=9]
[17:51] <@Glenn> ooc: CMD would be 15 with reduced dex.
[17:51] <@Ebiris> Yet despite not breaking free, Glenn is barely able to hold its teeth at bay from his vulnerable jugular and throat!
[17:51] <@Ebiris> OOC: Henrietta
[17:51] <@Glenn> "Someone get this thing off!" Glenn cries out with gritted teeth.
[17:52] <@Henrietta> With no walking dead in this very corridor, Henrietta hurries after Rudy, stopping just behind him and extending her left hand towards the grappling pair!
[17:52] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20-2 acid
[17:52] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20-2 acid and gets 8." [1d20=10]
[17:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: as a touch attack that actually hits
[17:53] <@Henrietta> roll 1d3 nice!
[17:54] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d3 nice! and gets 1." [1d3=1]
[17:54] <@Ebiris> The acid lands square on the monster's back as it wrestles with Glenn, sizzling and starting to eat through its rank flesh to the bone underneath... but too slowly by far!
[17:54] <@Ebiris> OOC: Rudy and Dog Power Hour
[17:55] <@Rudy> More assaults are made on the body of this walking corpse!
[17:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+5 shooting
[17:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+5 shooting and gets 20." [1d20=15]
[17:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+2 biting
[17:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+2 biting and gets 16." [1d20=14]
[17:55] <@Ebiris> OOC: both hit
[17:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d8+1
[17:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d8+1  and gets 6." [1d8=5]
[17:55] <@Rudy> roll 1d4+1
[17:55] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d4+1 and gets 4." [1d4=3]
[17:56] <@Ebiris> Another arrow joins the first, the zombie's head jerking away from Glenn's neck at about the same time Rudy's dog wrenches its leg off with a sickeningly wet tearing noise! The now inanimate corpse tumbling to the ground with a mouthful of Glenn while the hound growls and shakes its liberated legbone around in its jaw!
[17:57] <@Glenn> "That was...NOT how I hoped to distract the thing," Glenn mutters as he shakes, his nerves a little shook up from the close encounter, rapidly moving away from the downed body. "Thank you very, very much."
[17:57] <@Ebiris> No more zombies are seen immediately in the vicinity, and yet as a counterpoint to the constant sloshing and splashing of water heard nearby, echoing groans and moans continue to be heard dimly in the distance... you are definitely not alone down here.
[17:58] <@Henrietta> "A dead thing bit me," Henrietta sobs, holding her torn up hand with the good one.
[17:58] <@Rudy> "Ain't as mean as Myra," repeats Rudy, eyeing the corpses distastefully. "But they sure came in numbers. Ugh... this was mean to be easy," he complains. "Help a nice girl, get paid a boatload, get- god, are you alright?" he asks, whirling on Henrietta. "Lemme see, I think I've got some stuff we can use as a bandage..."
[17:59] <@Henrietta> "You'll need to open the next door," she says, sniffing. "I don't think I can survive another like it...."
[17:59] <@Rudy> "Here's an idea. How about... we don't!"
[18:00] <@Henrietta> "I don't want to stay here!"
[18:00] <@Glenn> "Let me look at your wound, check for any diseases or poison, before we do anything else," Glenn tells Henrietta as he moves closer to her. "I'd rather just go home, blow up the trap door if we have to, to get out."
[18:00] <@Rudy> "Sure. So let's go back the way we came in," replies Rudy, thoughtfully. "Think you can melt the- excellent idea."
[18:01] <@Rudy> "Don't think whoever was up there's like to be sticking around for long. My bet is Vanthus ain't hanging around this place anymore. Or he's dead."
[18:01] <@Ebiris> OOC: Glenn and Henrietta need to make fort saves
[18:01] <@Glenn> roll d20+5 fort save
[18:01] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+5 fort save  and gets 7." [d20=2]
[18:01] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+3 oh god why
[18:01] <@Glenn> ooc: saw that coming
[18:01] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+3 oh god why and gets 10." [1d20=7]
[18:02] <@Ebiris> OOC: carry on
[18:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+6 heal check for Henrietta first
[18:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 heal check for Henrietta first and gets 25." [d20=19]
[18:03] <@Glenn> roll d20+6 heal check for myself and oh god why couldn't I checkmyself first?
[18:03] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 heal check for myself and oh god why couldn't I checkmyself first? and gets 17." [d20=11]
[18:05] <@Ebiris> The flickering lamplight doesn't help much, but Glenn can see a purple splotchy discolouration around both is and Henrietta's wounds, in addition to the brackish vile zombie saliva tainting their injuries. They're almost certainly at high risk of contracting filth fever.
[18:07] * @Glenn grimaces and shares the information with Henrietta. "Okay, I definitely don't want to stick around here. Henrietta and I are both going to need to see a doctor if we don't want to get sick from those bites. Good chance of us contracting filth fever..."
[18:07] <@Ebiris> Glenn knows it takes a day for the disease to onset, but it weakens the immune system and causes painful lethargy. Untreated it can prove fatal, growing harder to resist as the disease takes root.
[18:07] <@Glenn> The alchemist goes pick up Miranda again. "Come on, let's get out of here..."
[18:08] <@Henrietta> "We have to find another way out," Henrietta finally states, calming down as much as she is able. "The trap door is too dangerous with me like this, and who else can climb up all the way? Who can do it for Miranda? No, we must find a real entrance, even if it means going through more of them."
[18:08] <@Rudy> "Or getting by them. This new dog trick I've picked up might make for some good distractions. Or advance scouts. Let's be all military about it, maybe," suggests Rudy, sighing, and moving to peek inside the door that the zombies bashed open.
[18:09] <@Glenn> "I'd still like to try the trap door since we know there aren't more zombies over there. Can you call Myra from a distance, or could we maybe get Miranda's bird to get your pet's attention? Throw a rope and have Myra pull us out?" Glenn asks, trying to give some ideas.
[18:10] <@Henrietta> "I'll take her," Henrietta offers to Glenn, taking Miranda off his hands. "And we don't know they aren't around, now do we?"
[18:10] <@Ebiris> It's very dark with Miranda's lantern back out in the hallway, not enough light to really see by. It looks to be a short and narrow passage to a larger room, but Rudy can't see without light.
[18:11] * @Henrietta then stumbles back into the hallway to pick up the lantern and place it over Miranda's stomach, returning afterwards.
[18:11] <@Rudy> "Myra's not there," replies Rudy, frowning. "She's tired! Useless to us right now."
[18:12] <@Henrietta> "Maybe we could blow the trapdoor open and send Miranda's familiar to get her, though?" Henrietta suggests. "Tired as she is, she should still be able to get here slowly."
[18:12] <@Rudy> "No, like, she's not there," repeats Rudy. "She's gone. Vanished!"
[18:12] <@Ebiris> With more light it's possible to see, looks to be a fairly small room held up by a pillar in the centre much like the ones out in this flooded chamber. Broken crates and split barrels are seen around its edges, and a corpse lays on his back in the middle, torn open around the guts and looking mostly devoured... yet what flesh is visible seems fresh, the death clearly more recent than that of the creatures you just battled.
[18:13] <@Glenn> Glenn sighs. "I wish we could at least blow a hole through the trap door and send word to Lady Vanderboren or someone..."
[18:13] <@Glenn> Glenn looks at the raven and shakes his head, not trusting the bird wouldn't be distracted by something shiny or drop the note while flying to shore.
[18:14] <@Rudy> "Fie on that! We're dependable and reliable people who will not be jeaprodizing our earning prospects by calling for help like that," insists Rudy, before turning to the corpse and making a sick noise.
[18:14] <@Glenn> Glenn grimaces at the sight ofthe corpse. "If you say so. I just hope we don't end up like that guy..."
[18:14] * @Henrietta is already as sick as she could possibly be, so overcoming the reflex is easy. She tries to ascertain that the corpse is not of her employer's brother, and what other exits possibly exist.
[18:15] <@Rudy> "Well, if we run into any more dead people who forgot to fall over properly, let's just try scooting on by."
[18:17] <@Ebiris> Entering into the room to examine the corpse, one can see another door that lies beyond the blocking pillar in the middle of the room, open and leading to a corridor that twists out of sight to the South. The corpse is badly mauled, its studded leather armour torn open to get at the flesh beneath, the face an unrecognisable ruin. He does have a belt with a few pouches on it, the belt frayed and half open from whatever clawing or biting was done to get at the flesh around it.
[18:18] * @Rudy manages to put aside his revulsion long enough to pull off the man's belt, and he rifles through the contents swiftly.
[18:18] * @Henrietta is carrying Miranda and their light, so if the pouches really interest someone in this situation, they can easily check them. She creeps towards the door to peek past it.
[18:19] * @Glenn just stays near Henrietta, letting Rudy do the searching of bodies.
[18:19] * @Henrietta waits for Rudy to send a hound down the corridor ahead to scout, intending to follow.
[18:20] <@Ebiris> Rudy finds a pouch with a handful of silver and two gold coins in it, another containing some sort of ground herb, and the last a cylindrical covering for a small potion bottle that's labelled as 'healing'. He also has a dagger sheath but it's empty.
[18:22] <@Rudy> "Well, pity about this guy, but good news for us," notes Rudy, procuring the potion and glancing at Miranda. "Think it might wake her up some?"
[18:23] <@Glenn> "What is it?" Glenn asks as he looks at the bottle that Rudy found.
[18:24] <@Rudy> "According to the label, it's a healing potion. Questionable sanity of drinking strange liquids we find underground aside, it should patch up a few wounds. Guess the question is who needs it most."
[18:24] <@Henrietta> "At this point, there is no harm in trying," Henrietta says, reaching out for the potion and intending to feed it down Miranda's throat.
[18:25] <@Henrietta> roll 1d8+1
[18:25] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d8+1 and gets 4." [1d8=3]
[18:25] <@Glenn> "A healing potion? By all means, it certainly can't hurt," Glenn agrees.
[18:25] <@Miranda_Altair> Como watches Henrietta distrustfully.
[18:26] <@Ebiris> Miranda regains some colour in her cheeks, her visible wounds scabbing over with a speed that's apparent just by looking. She remains unconscious, but seems to rest more easily in Henrietta's arms...
[18:26] <@Henrietta> "Maybe it was expired?" Henrietta asks with a wince. "It doesn't seem to have quite the same strength as the potions my father used to talk about."
[18:26] <@Rudy> "Do potions do that?"
[18:26] <@Glenn> "Well, if we're lucky, we might find some other potion..." Glenn says,though the doubt is evident in his tone.
[18:27] * @Rudy points his dog towards the corridor, instructing it to simply run down while they bring up the rear.
[18:27] * @Henrietta nods ahead for Glenn, counting on him to defend them from the undead.
[18:28] <@Glenn> "Potions do get weaker after some time, but it takes a particularly long time for a magical potion, unless it was improperly brewed in the first place...and those always react strangely anyhow," Glenn says, a bit concerned at the possibility. Perhaps he should have checked the potion before they gave it to Miranda...
[18:28] <@Ebiris> The dog runs off and into the darkness out of sight! As the party follow, however, they catch up almost straight away, finding the dog sitting in front of a rotten wooden door a mere ten feet from the bend.
[18:29] * @Glenn places his ear closer against the door, listening for any more zombie groaning.
[18:29] <@Ebiris> OOC: roll perception
[18:29] <@Glenn> roll d20+6
[18:29] * +Hatbot --> "Glenn rolls d20+6 and gets 10." [d20=4]
[18:30] <@Ebiris> The door feels grimy and clammy against Glenn's ear. The groaning remains everpresent, echoing through these subterranean passages, but he thinks it does seem more likely to be coming from the East, beyond the door.
[18:31] <@Glenn> "...I think I hear more groaning from beyond the door. It's not close, but we may be walking deeper into a pit of zombies if we break down the door," Glenn says as he steps away from the door, clearly not wanting to go that way.
[18:32] <@Henrietta> "We have to put them down before they eat us," Henrietta whispers. "If we keep our distance we should come out on top."
[18:33] <@Rudy> "Or we could go back to that other room with the crabs and check the other passages?"
[18:33] <@Miranda_Altair> Como caws and pecks at his wings a bit.
[18:33] <@Henrietta> "We'll need to face them again sooner or later, but if you'd prefer later, I don't have a reason to oppose. Let's go."
[18:34] <@Ebiris> The party retreats back to the flooded chamber, all foes here continuing to lie dead and unmoving, thankfully. The two doors to the North and the door to the West remain unexplored, although the Western door on the North wall still lies ajar, hanging off shattered hinges.
[18:35] * @Rudy desides to check out the door to the west first.
[18:38] <@Ebiris> Opening the door, Rudy finds an unworked tunnel ahead of him, a sandy slope descending to a craggy and narrow path that snakes around out of sight. Just below the craggy slope, however, lies the source of the regular sloshing noises, water following the tunnel below the slope and occasionally lapping up onto the path as if moved by a subterranean tide. Barely visible in the lamplight, one can see that the shelf below the water is covered by dozens of purple and red sea urchins, glistening in shallow divots in the rock and against the walls below the tide.
[18:39] <@Rudy> Rudy grimaces. "This might be the other way out," he notes. "Underground river to get in with the goods, or some such."
[18:40] <@Henrietta> "Let's go take a closer look," Henrietta suggests, approaching with their source of light. "I could swim out and open the trapdoor for us."
[18:41] <@Ebiris> The light glistens off the wet rocks and churning water, better illuminating the brightly coloured spiny urchins nestling below the surface and the winding path that curves away and out of sight...
[18:41] <@Rudy> "You're sure you're up for that?" suggests Rudy, eyeing the tunnel dubiously. "We aren't actually sure where it goes, and if your light goes out..."
[18:42] * @Henrietta grimaces. "You're right. We're not quite that desperate yet, so let's keep on looking. The door to the north is next?"
[18:42] <@Ebiris> The water seems to be about eight feet deep just below the jagged path, like a giant sized step onto a lower shelf.
[18:43] * @Glenn just keeps listening out for more of the zombies as he follows Henrietta's and Rudy's exploration.
[18:43] <@Rudy> "Well, maybe we can head out this way," suggests Rudy, indicating the winding path. "It's sandy, so maybe it goes to some cave on the beach."
[18:44] <@Ebiris> The groans are quieter here, drowned out by the louder water with the door open.
[18:44] * Joins: Merc-laptop (~penuche@c-98-196-68-69.hsd1.tx.comcast.net)
[18:44] * @Henrietta nods reluctantly. "Can you send your dog ahead first?"
[18:44] * Glenn is now known as Merc
[18:44] * Merc-laptop is now known as Glenn
[18:46] <@Rudy> Rudy's first dog vanishes with a pop, and a second one is soon unleashed to blaze the trail!
[18:47] <@Ebiris> The dog scampers onto the narrow path and starts to advance towards the corner where it curves North out of sight...
[18:47] <@Ebiris> OOC: balance check for dog
[18:47] <Glenn> "Just how many of those can you summon, out of curiosity?" Glenn asks as he watches the second dog vanish.
[18:48] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+2 balance?
[18:48] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+2 balance? and gets 8." [1d20=6]
[18:49] <@Rudy> "I'll tell you when I can't summon anymore."
[18:49] <@Ebiris> OOC: acrobatics check, I mean
[18:50] <@Ebiris> The dog doesn't get far, so the group can easily see just as it reaches the corner and starts to turn, the plucky canine loses its footing and tumbles into the surging water with a startled yelp and a splash!
[18:50] <@Ebiris> roll 1d3 fort save for dog
[18:50] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d3 fort save for dog and gets 3." [1d3=3]
[18:52] <@Rudy> roll 1d20+4
[18:52] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 1d20+4 and gets 11." [1d20=7]
[18:53] <@Ebiris> The dog has the misfortune of landing in a patch of sea urchins, a dozen or so sharp quills stabbing through fur and flesh alike!
[18:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: Dog's submerged amidst the urchins, it can try to climb back out where it is or swim to the sandbank back up onto where you are. Or just chill where it is, I dunno.
[18:54] <@Rudy> The dog appears to lose any further will to live, and vanishes under the water.
[18:54] * @Henrietta freezes, though she is still bravely ready to follow Rudy down the path. If Rudy shows that it can be done by mere mortals.
[18:54] <@Rudy> Rudy coughs. "I think I could get across that without slipping. Pass me the lantern?"
[18:55] <@Henrietta> "Here. Good luck!" Henrietta tells him in all seriousness.
[18:55] <@Rudy> Rudy grimaces, but begins to slowly make his way over the sandbank...
[18:55] <@Rudy> OOC: I'll.. take 10? For 14?
[18:56] <@Ebiris> Rudy manages to avoid the same bad patch the dog slipped on and rounds the corner safely, leaving the others with only the dim reflected light of the lantern coming around the corner onto the surging water. The path appears to wind North a bit before rounding South and again out of sight... he thinks if it's all like this he can make it!
[18:58] <@Rudy> "I can probably get through this!" he calls, still treading very carefully. "If I don't come back, I'm either dead, or opening the trapdoor!"
[18:59] <@Ebiris> Rudy continues along around the bend, he can now see the path rising up onto a shoddily paved and narrow inset in the cavern ahead, a wooden door much like the others seen down here barring the way. The rest of the party, however, are soon left in utter darkness as Rudy escapes with their light source.
[18:59] <@Henrietta> "We'll get back to the corridor, then," Henrietta calls after him, passing Miranda to Glenn and then lighting up her own torch at last.
[19:00] <@Rudy> Rudy advances nervously on the wooden door, pressing an ear to it before shoving it open.