Chambers
 Session One: Out of the Pit 

The sun’s morning light is weak through the canopy above as you stand in the woods, watching the mouth of the open cave entrance for any sign of movement while the traveling priest who hired you makes some last minute adjustments to his pack. The abandoned mine - the abandoned, haunted, mine - was a half-days walk from Wortham. The zarakum cleric, Josiah, refused to enter the mine during the night, so you made camp outside and waited for morning.

Yesterday at the tavern he agreed to pay each of you in coin and full shares of loot in return for escorting him into the mine where he needs to perform an exorcism to cleanse it. The cleric is a nervous man that jumps at loud noises and carries both the dirt of his far travels and the scars of experience.

Talking to the locals before leaving last night, you’ve heard that the drift mine has been abandoned for almost five years, the silver veins within it played out. The haunting began within the past year with sightings of animated corpses shambling around the woods near the mine. A few of the corpses were fresh enough to be recognizable as people from Wortham that had died and been supposedly buried in the church graveyard.

Josiah seems torn between bringing his extra pack and leaving it out here. In the end he drops it on the ground and grips his gnarled walking staff.   “Red-ready, I’m ready.”   He says.   “That’s if you all are, of course.”  
 
 Spoiler 
We are jumping right in with a simple dungeon crawl. RP some if you wish and we'll get into it. If there's additional questions or preparations you think your character would have done the night before, we can assume they would have done them.

 OOC. 
 Recruitment. 
 
Frosty
The rogue Moira, with her bow already drawn, stands in front of the nervous cleric.   "Josiah, you are a cleric of Zakarum.   Have some faith...both in the three and in yourself.  The gods will not let you die here.  Not when you have me."   She places a comforting hand on Josiah's shoulder.

Command roll result 11 to try to calm the cleric.
Nightraiderx
Just as Moira puts a hand on the cleric's shoulder, another hand is abruptly placed on his other shoulder as Sharakahn is towering over him.
With a fire in his eye he takes a breath and speaks.  "Do not fear, for fear is the mind killer and to triumph over fear is to set the fire within our hearts
and press onward. Do not fret for I am here and ready to conflagrate any demonic creatures that may come our way. You just need to do the ritual,
we'll handle any interruptions." 

Command 17 to persuade the Cleric to chill.
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny Warlock gathers his augments, placing his venomous Augment on Moira and his Thundering Augment on Sharakaun. He hefts his sheild to one arm and pulls his consecrated shortsword in his other hand.
 
"You need not fear, we can handle something as simple as this. We are prepared." 

He looks over his own group.
 
"Mostly." 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 
  I still think he should wait here until we clear this place out first  , Zenoa thought bitterly to herself while the others 'comforted' the priest.

The tall, amazonian Zenoa stood apart from the group, chewing on a root of some kind while her eyes scanned both the cave and their leafy surroundings, the light breeze sometimes catching her shoulder-length black hair. Her well-kept armor from her soldier days was buckled and fastened to her well-proportioned and fit figure, while a blade hung upon her hip and a shield was drawn over her back. In the morning like this she took some small solace in gnawing on a Licorice Root she carried around in her pocket while contemplating the day to come, but the only thoughts that entered her mind now were ones of how she was going to protect a timid, skittery priest from whatever was in that dungeon.

 "Perhaps you should head back to town, father,"  Zenoa spoke while still facing away, her sonorous voice carrying over her shoulder.

 "It's safe there; we'll come and get you once we're sure the mine is secure. Then we'll escort you back here." 
Chambers
 Outside the Abandoned Mine 
  "Sometimes it's the thought that counts, I suppose."   Josiah says and offers Moira a weak smile.   "Some of you have the bearing of a soldier..."   He says and nods towards Zenoa and Sharakaun.   "And so you understand duty. Though indeed I am...frightened, of what awaits us there, it is  my  responsibility and I  will  see it done."   Steel finally enters the priests voice.   "And I am not unarmed, nor without aid to offer to the injured. I know a prayer that will bind your wounds and guard you from harm, for a time."  
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 


Zenoa looked at the priest as he gave his explanation, a blank, almost vacant, unimpressed look upon her features. After a long pause the former soldier nodded, reaching for her side and retrieving the sallet helmet to place it upon her head. That done, she drew the visor down over her face, leaving her bright blue eyes to stare through the visor.

 "Alrighty then." 
Frosty
Moira can remember when she was just as timid, doing whatever her parents told her.  While she is happy that part of her is gone now, she can also empathize.   "Alright.  I'm going to scout ahead for danger.  If any of you are light on your feet and quiet as a mouse, you can come with." 

Bow drown, the redhead starts moving ahead, picking spots that silence her footsteps.

(Stealth result of 18)
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine Entrance 

The early morning dew on the wet grass keeps Moira's steps quiet as she approaches the mine. The entrance is cut into the side of a hill, a gaping maw of darkness wide and tall enough to drive two carriages through. The worked stone that forms the walls and arch have been overgrown by moss and weeds in the years since the mine was abandoned. Cracks run in the walls and roots hang down from gaps in the ceiling.

A few feet inside the entrance is a barricade of jumbled carts, logs, branches, tools, rocks, and debris that reaches to the ceiling and spans nearly wall to wall. The villagers attempt to seal the mine appears to have not been successful, as the left side of the barricade has been disturbed enough to let a person squeeze through. Almost no sunlight reaches past the barricade but the torchlight behind Moira lets her see a long hallway filled with the junked remains of the mining operation. Beyond the light the hallway opens into a larger room but Moira can't see enough to make out any details.

 
 Spoiler 
 https://new.tableplop.com/join/barte...ead-wilds-pick 

The red line on the map is the barricade. The light from the torch reaches about 20ft into the entrance (the yellow line).
 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa looked at Moira as the smaller woman took point, her..."clothes", such as they were, eliciting a barely audible sigh and shake of the head from the former bodyguard.   I left that girl for two years and she parades around like that  , she thought to herself, reaching to her hip and withdrawing her blade and retrieving her shield, bringing both before her as she moved herself to the head of the group, alert.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine Entrance 

Moira squeezes through the gap between the barricade and the wall, Sharakahn not far behind with the torch. The temperature drops with every step forward until there's a chill in the air, the walls soaked with a cold that is never warmed. The change from the smell of fresh grass and woodlands to stale air and decay is like slamming into an invisible wall, a shock to the system. The ruins that were glimpsed earlier become clear now in the light.

Overturned carts, scattered piles of tools and rocks, and broken furniture lay all over the floor. Years of weeds and mushrooms grow over some of the wreckage from neglect but some of the destruction is more recent. In one of the carts Moira finds the carcass of a deer, its throat torn out and chunks missing from its body. Blood stains surround the cart and a trail of dried blood leads away from the cart, deeper into the mine and out past the torchlight. The sounds of the outside forest are muted through the barricade and soft creaks and drips can be heard in the darkness. A slow rhythm of rope rubbing against something, leather sliding back and forth against stone.

Father Josiah stands on the other side of the barricade with the rest of the group and tries to look less nervous as he waits for the scouts to report.
Frosty
Moira moves ahead, seeing if there's anything of note.  (I moved)
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn will wait patiently with the fire keeping an eye on Moira's position letting her get ahead a bit.
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny moved forward to stay within the light, but allowing thier scout to have room to explore without his interference.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Central Room 

The light from Sharakahns torch reveals more of the mine as he and Moira advance. The hallway opens into a large room and the trail of blood leads to an open air abattoir of dismembered corpses, some animal, others that were once human. Whether from the physical weight of flesh or spiritual stain of corruption, the ground underneath the corpse pile has given way and collapsed to the next floor down. The putrid smell of decaying flesh is overwhelming near the pile, blocking out all of scents. Thankfully most of the corpses are old and already past their most pungent.

A wall made of worked stone is on the western wall with a wooden door that is blocked with a similar barricade to the one at the entrance. To the southeast the room continues past the torch light. The sounds of rope and leather moving back and forth over something can be heard a little clearer and seem to be coming from the southeast, beyond the torchlight.

 
 Spoiler 
 Link to map. 
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny dares to move closer to the pit to peer in with hesitation. His Shortsword, consecrated with his own faith, keeping him from running in fear.

"So....this looks like.... the entrance.... or exit... depending on who you ask."
Nightraiderx
 "To be honest I'm more curious of the sounds south east of us, a peculiar sound. We can  always go back to the hole after we search the upper floors." 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa's eyes remained sharp and focused on the cave around her, the claustrophobic nature of the interior getting a little under her skin.

Exhaling through her visor, she looked over her shoulder to ensure that Josiah was nearby, giving him a gently gesture with her forehead to make sure that he kept up. With him in tow, she would slowly move forward, never straying far from the priests proximity.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Central Room 
  "Angels above protect us from madness."   Father Josiah says as he sees the bloody pile of corpses.   "Only a fiend could do this..."   He says and trails off, one hand gripping his walking staff, the other clutching a medallion on his necklace.   "Have you ever seen... something like this?"   He asks Zenoa.

Taking some time to examine the pit, Johnny see a pair of rats running across the bottom of the makeshift corpse stairs and one of the torsos slips, falling out of its position. The headless and limbless chest tumbles down out of sight. Whether the rats dislodged it, rotting flesh finally gave way, or something else caused it to move, Johnny can't tell.

Moving away from the pile, Sharakahn brings the light to the other corner of the room and reveals a passageway heading east. Unsure of how long it goes, he can tell that the walls are more worked stone like this central room. The torch's weak light casts shadows to the south that look like some kind of large machinery that takes up almost the entire southern room. Too far too make out details by sight yet, the sound at least is clearer to Sharakahn. He hears a rope being pulled through a smooth-worn wheel, then loose rope sliding down across stone. A moment passes and the motion and sound repeat.

 
 Spoiler: Map 
 Map 
 


Moving closer towards the sound, Johnny and Sharakahn see a giant pit and mechanism for an elevator. The bottom of the shaft can't be seen yet but the source of the sound is made apparent. A legless corpse is chained to the floor and its eyes and mouth have been removed. Its arms reach out and grab a rope attached to part of the elevator and it pulls on the rope, dragging the rope through a pulley. Some part of the mechanism is missing or broken however, and the rope just slides back down without lifting anything.
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny, bothered by the corpse falling down the stairs, moved closer to the sound.

"Perhaps instead of all of us exploring outwards,  we should move as a single group together. Think we can pick a dungeon decider and just follow their intuition?"
Frosty
 "Father, these could be demons...or just very evil bandits.  Either way, we will take care of this 

Moira checks out the elevator pit, and notes the missing mechanism.   "We can't use this right  now.  If we want to, we will need to find the missing mechanism and fix the elevator.  Perhaps we can explore that way?" 

Moira starts heading to the south east.
Nightraiderx
 "Ah seems so, then let's go the way you stated and see what other demon-made horrors are being propagated here." 
Sharakahn will adjust towards moving towards Moira keeping the edge of the torch on as many people as possible.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Central Room 
  "I knew foul magic was at work here."   Father Josiah says when he gets close enough to the elevator to see the disfigured and trapped corpse, animated and put to menial labor.   "His soul will never know rest while his body toils. Please, we must release him and end his torment."  

Before heading down the hallway, Moira sees that the elevator is on the floor below, 20ft down. The rope that the corpse is pulling should be attached to the platform but it's come loose, an easy fix if one were standing on the platform. The corpse pays no attention to or even appears to notice as she and Sharakahn inspect the pit.

While the torchlight barely reaches the end of the eastern hallway 50ft away the hallway itself is illuminated with a soft biolumenscent glow from hundreds of oversized mushrooms and growths. Moira can see two doors opposite each other on the walls before the hallway stops. The fungi have a strong armoa of natural organic decay that is not wholly unpleasant. The natural lights slowly shifts from blue to green and the larger mushrooms appear to shrink back from the torchlight.

 
 Spoiler: Map 
 Map 

If one wishes to avoid stepping on any of the fungi they'll have to move carefully and slowly.
 
Darius Vibrtrar
"Father, you got any plans on how to end his eternal torment? just destroy the body? or do you have a spell, magic water?"

Johnny seems suspitious of the area as he talks to the priest
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

 
 Originally Posted by Chambers 
  Abandoned Mine - Central Room 
  "Angels above protect us from madness."   Father Josiah says as he sees the bloody pile of corpses.   "Only a fiend could do this..."   He says and trails off, one hand gripping his walking staff, the other clutching a medallion on his necklace.   "Have you ever seen... something like this?"   He asks Zenoa. 
 


Beneath her helmet the soldier twitched her nose at the rank, odiferous mélange of bodily humours and decaying flesh. It was an aroma that slithered its way into ones nostrils like a wet finger and threatened to go deeper and further than any other scent could penetrate.

 "Yes..."  she answered,  "battlefields are not pretty places, father. In the aftermath you will be treated to fields of the disembowelled and gutted, some of them still screaming in their last moments in this realm as entrails and fleshly outpourings turn the ground to red mud. They leave those parts out of the grand stories." 

Every instinct Zenoa had was screaming at her to leave and collapse the entrance to this cursed place...but with the father in tow, perhaps some sanctity could be brought in to wash away whatever evil had committed these acts. The irony wasn't lost on the soldier that only minutes ago she had suggested that the priest abdicated to the nearest town while they handled the grisly work. How unexpected had it been that his presence would now be reassuring, lest he be able to wage a spiritual combat where her own arms of steel would fail.

Sticking close to the priest, Zenoa was ready to dispense to the eyeless corpse whatever anodyne the priest ascribed.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Central Room 
  "Thank you then for joining me on yet another battlefield."   Father Josiah says to Zenoa. "It is a comfort to have you here." He forces himself to look at the disfigured corpse made into little more than an automaton.   "He should be laid to rest in consecrated ground, but your sword should suffice."   He says to Johnny.

  "I will pray for his soul, for all these lost souls abandoned here."   Josiah closes his eyes, forms the sign of the Light and holds his palm outward. A faint glow surrounds his hand, a mark of divine power. He whispers a prayer under his breath waiting for the corpse to be dispatched.

Examing the elevator pit, Johnny sees a shape in the gloom that catches his eye. On the platform at the bottom of the shaft is a body dressed in leather and steel armor with a broken pike laying next to it. It's the first corpse found in the mines that doesn't look like it has spent time as an undead creature. The body is crushed into one corner, guts torn open, with several rotten corpses nearby.

Zenoa recognizes the overgrown mushrooms as a larger than normal example of a typical fungi found in these conditions. The caps are safe to eat though they have an unpleasant taste to most people. Overgrowth of this size may indicate contamination with an unusual fertilizer which may or may not affect the taste or safe consumption of the mushroom. The bioluminescence is likely an aftereffect of the fertilizer and not unnatural in and of itself.

 
 Spoiler: Map 
 Map 
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny looked down the hole and squinted.

"Hey.... Priest.... theres a body down here, thats not corrupted yet.... We may want to pull it out before their soul gets corrupted. Does anyone know how to fix this contraption with the rope?"

Johnny keeps his eyes open to the area, still fearful of something new rushing them.
Nightraiderx
 "If it is consecrated ground, then my fire should suffice to cleanse the creature thoroughly."  
Sharakan moves his hand, sigils lighting up as a pillar of flames rises from beneath the skeleton, incinerating it.

(23 Fire Damage to the corpse)
Frosty
 "Alright.  Since the elevator is not working, we should go down the body pit to head down to the floor below.  That should get us onto the same floor as that corpse down there right?  Or, we could try climbing.  I can tie a tope against one of the pillars, and we use it to climb down." 

Moira goes to Zenoa and pokes the woman in the shoulder.   "Last time we were together, you would always insist on going in front of me first to make sure everything was safe.  How things change eh?" 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

 Moira goes to Zenoa and pokes the woman in the shoulder. "Last time we were together, you would always insist on going in front of me first to make sure everything was safe. How things change eh?" 

Zenoa's bright blue eyes, bared and visible as they were through her visor, turned slowly to behold her once former charge with a passionless gaze. It was clear to the sister of the Sightless Eye that the mental cogs were turning behind those orbs, but to what end, who could say.

 "Your father no longer pays my salary." 
Frosty
 "Yes well...sorry about you losing your job.  I've always liked you the most out of the bodyguards my father had hired though." 
Darius Vibrtrar
Listening to Moira Johnny nods.

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

Johnny climbs down the rope.
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn will hold the torch over the hole as Johnny descends,
 "Aye a brave one to jump in head first, eh? If you find undead at the bottom I'll set flame to them from here!" 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny calls back up.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Lots of kingsmen died here. Violently. And something has tried to break down the double doors here."
Nightraiderx
 "So far so good. Zenoa you want to head down next with the priest and I'll follow you with the torch?" 
Sharakahn will keep the torch low to give Johnny as much light as possible.
Frosty
Moira climbs down.   "It looks like some monster was...or is...being contained here.  Perhaps these men died trying to kill it and when that failed, containment was the next best option?  We need to be careful to not meet the same fate." 
Darius Vibrtrar
"We will need to open these doors, not to overly rely on your mystic talents, but some fire might be more effective against these wooden doors than strength of arm."

Johnny looks to Sharakahn, with a requesting smile.
Nightraiderx
 "Let's see how tough these doors are then!"  Sharakahn aims a Fireball enchanted with thunderweave at the door. (13 Fire damage)
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 


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

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

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

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

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

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

 
 Spoiler 
Sergeant's Duty - Magic Item, Power 1 Longsword

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

Enemies damaged cannot move further than Close for one turn.
Enemies damaged have -2 penalty to Battle tests for one turn.
Enemies damaged reduce Damage Reduction by 1 for one turn.
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny stares in awe at the sword as he sheathes his shortsword and adjusts it toward the back of his belt.

"Seargant, I will do you justice."

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

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

Johnny starts following the Tracks.
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

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


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

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

 "Whatever it was they were trying to seal in there they thought the cost of their lives was necessary." 
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn thinks about it for a moment.  "Perhaps it would be pertinent to take the east exist first and work our way to the right of this room." 
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

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

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

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

 
 Spoiler 
 Map  is updated. Please test Observation (Detect Hidden Foe)
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny stands ready, weapon and sheild in hand. He calls back.

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

Johnny moves forward to prevent any of those climbing up the put from getting over the edge.
Nightraiderx
Sharakan perks his ears up hearing Johnny,  "Alright lets see how well they withstand it then." 
Sharakan launches a fireball at the climbing foes.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

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

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

Order of Battle right now:
Sharakahn 39 (Aggressive)
Moira 26 (Engaged)
Zenoa 26 (Defensive)
Undead 24 (Engaged)
Johnny 17 (Aggressive)
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny works himself up into a fervor, assuming his Aggressive battle stance [battle check 17]

"We got like 5 corpses moving, let's get up front so they can't climb up and swarm us!"
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn will move forward with the torch, seeing the undead shambling in the pit.  "Horrendous creature of unlife shall you return to the soil whence you came, Purgatorial Fire!" 
Sharakahn erupts a pillar of fire underneath the undead, the flames rising and showing signs of heat and embers as the undead is crisp.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

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

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

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

 
 Spoiler 
 Map .

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

Sharakahn must also test Strength once to avoid infection.
 
Darius Vibrtrar
With Sergants Duty in hand, Johnny slashes out against the first creature that came out of the pit, now fighting for his life, he remains in aggressive stance in order to stay alive.

[47 to hit]
[35 damage]
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

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

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

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

Battle Order
Other Corpses: 58 (Aggressive)
Burned Corpse: 49 (Aggressive)
Johnny: 37 (Aggressive)
Moira: 26 (Engaged)
Sharakhan: 16 (Engaged)
Zenoa: 14 (Engage)
 
Darius Vibrtrar
Breathing heavily Johnny calls to his allies.

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

[Aggressive Stance, battle test 37]
Frosty
Moira readiews herself.  Again in engaged stance.  " My bow will keep them off you!"   (26 Battle test)
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 


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

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

________
In  Engaged  stance.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

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

 
 Spoiler 
 Map. 

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

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

Battle Order
 Other Corpses: 58 (Aggressive) 
 Burned Corpse: 49 (Aggressive) 
Johnny: 37 (Aggressive)
Moira: 26 (Engaged)
Sharakhan: 16 (Engaged)
Zenoa: 14 (Engaged)
 
Darius Vibrtrar
While Johnny defends against attacks with sheild and parrying with sword, he turns the back and reverse slashes back against the nearly cleaved in half undead that still stands before him.

"Stay DOWN!"

[32 to hit]
[12 damage]
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

The Sergeants blade cleaves through the rest of the corpse, separating it entirely. The energy that was animating the corpse is unable to hold together and it likewise explodes in a blast of raw arcane energy, damaging Johnny and one of the other corpses.

 
 Spoiler 
The corpse Johnny attacked explodes as it dies, dealing 2 damage to Johnny and the corpse that was adjacent to it.
 
Nightraiderx
Upon seeing the corpse explode, Sharakahn is going to step back and then roast one of the zombies attacking him with flame pillar.
(15 to hit, 25 damage)
Frosty
Moira steps back quickly, and looses two venom-augmented arrows!  If the first hit downs a corpse, she aims the second at a different enemy!

Shot #1:  19 to hit, 19 damage + 10 venom damage.
Shot #1:  27 to hit, 25 damage + 10 venom damage.

 "Hey, they're not getting up again...and they didn't explode..." 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa's eyes shifted back and forth behind her visor, between her companions, the rotten moans of the walking cadavers and her charge, the Priest. Staying by the mans side for now, her shield defensively covering both him and herself, the tall warrior-woman remained in reserve as she observed her companions were managing the intruders.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

Father Josiah shifts his attention from the corpses attacking his escorts to Moira as she invokes the names of Chaos to ensure her strikes are true. He keeps silent but Zenoa can see him become tense, the fear of battle replaced by some other concern. Regardless of the Father's judgment, Moira's arrows sink into the corpses and Johnnys spell laid upon her arrows drains the animating force from the corpses.

 
 Spoiler 
 Map. 

Battle Tests:
Sharakahn 57 (Aggressive)
Moira 39 (Aggressive)
Corpses 37 (Aggressive)

The others still have to test but Moira and Sharakahn beat the enemies so they can go ahead and post their actions.
 
Darius Vibrtrar
With only one undead left in reach, Johnny turns and swings his blade in an attempt to finish the foe.

"Just die already!"

[26 Attack]
[18 Damage]
Frosty
Moira shoots 2 arrows, hitting with both!  As both arrows are still envenomed, they should instantly down the remaining zombies!

(Attacks are 32 and 53)
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn is annoyed with these undead, ready to set an angry flame pillar upon any remaining zombie after his compatriots attacks.
(35 to attack 15 to damage)
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 


The tall ex-soldier stood by the priest, her shield half-guarding herself and him, her blade in hand and clearly tense in waiting. She did, however, notice the priests concern, as beneath her helmet she rose a slender, black eyebrow in curiosity, before returning her attention back to the shambling horrors being burned, stabbed and filled with arrows.


OOC:
__________

Engaged stance.
Defending herself and the priest.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

Flame, sword, and arrow drop the remaining corpses. Whatever animating force was within them withers away and the air is thick with the smoke of burning, dead flesh. Father Josiah makes the sign of the Light before him as he advances to the slag pit. "  I cannot do what you have done..."   He says, looking at the finally still corpses and the violent marks they left upon you.   "But I can heal the wounds they cause."   He says and glances at Moira for only a moment.   "I can only heal the body."  
 
 Spoiler 
Father Josiah knows the Recitation of Order spell and will cast it upon whoever wants to have their damage healed.
 
Darius Vibrtrar
As the heat of battle begins to fade, Johnny begins to shudder and shake uncontrollably. He drops his sword and holds his arms around his body. Adrenaline no longer keeping his body moving.

"C-c-could sssssomeone st-t-tart a fire, I am freezin-n-ng"
Nightraiderx
 "Much thanks to you, father. Sadly it is like this in several towns that I've had to subjucate."  Sharakahn will collect some wood and set the torch to it making a campfire.  "It's not much but hope it helps with your condition." 
Frosty
Moira looks concerned.   "Did the corpse literally drain your body warmth from you?  We may need to build a fire and keep you warm.  Who knows if this is just the first step in a series of symptoms." 

Moira gives hugs Johnny a hug just to give him some immediate warmth.   "For now, use the torch. to warm up." 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny draws closer to what ever fire is available.

"S-s-something..... when it st-t-truck me... like ice in my veins"

He sits to stay close without burning himself
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

There's enough loose timber and other scrap to get a proper fire going near the slag pit. While Johnny warms himself trying to shake the sudden cold from the corpse attack, Father Josiah asks for help in arranging the dead bodies for their final rest. He lays them next to each other as best he can after moving them into the slag pit. He closes their eyes and says a short prayer over each of them in turn, then spends a few minutes in quiet contemplation standing besides them. Aftewards he turns to Zenoa.   "I...can you...I think..."   He says, hesitant to say what he's trying to say. He takes a deep breath.   "I don't want them coming back. Can you make sure of it?"   He asks and then climbs out of the pit.

 
 Spoiler 
The rest is uneventful, Johnny no longer has the cold condition.
 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

The tall ex-soldier leaned her helmeted head in to lend an ear to the priests softly spoken words. Seeing his hesitation and receiving his request, the bodyguard nodded solemnly as she read between the lines, as it were.

Once the priest had departed the pit, Zenoa looked over at Johnny Warlock. She held out her free hand, her sword since sheathed, and spoke to him quietly,  "could you pass a torch from there? We need to make sure these don't get back up." 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny nods, the shivering finally calming. He hands her a lit torch.

"Here, thanks for taking care of that."

He turns and looks to the priest.

"Father, you said earlier you could close wounds?"

He looks down to see his wounds are already healed.

"Oh. You work fast"
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn will watch the corpses burn.  "Aye shame there's no cure for the undead, just ways to make sure the
used bodies stay unanimated. If only we could stop them at the source of necromancy..." 
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa nodded in thanks to Johnny as she received the torch, then brought the burning pitch down adjacent to the corpses. The bright illumination lathered the walls of the little pit, both soaking and reflecting into her helmet as her blue eyes stole the dancing flame that sprung to life to devour the cadavers, before Zenoa stood herself back up at her full height.

Looking back over her shulder, the soldier held the torch back out for Johnny to take as she climbed out of that hole in teh ground to join the others in observing the impromtu viking funeral. Exhaling as he watched the remains turn to cinders, she nodded once at a Sharakahn's words. Having seen examples of this method of corpse disposal many, many times, Zenoa was desensitized to the affair, but she understand if the uninitiated were struck with a moment of prophetic self-awareness when witnessing the final moments of a persons final remains, before they returned to the earth.

 "I don't know much about the tricks of sorcerers,"  Zenoa spoke, her voice filtered through her helmet.

 "But I'm sure we'll find their creator if they delve deeper into the mine." 
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - East Hallway 

Josiah stands watch nearby while Zenoa puts the corpses to the torch. The foul smell of burning flesh sits heavy in the slow moving air of the mine as the campfire warms the chill away from Johnny. The smoke from both fires swirl together in the air and crawl along the ceiling like river water flowing over rocks. When the smoke reaches the main room it accelerates westward, caching some unseen air current that drags it onward.

  "There is a way to stop them at the source, but first we must find the root."   Josiah says and looks around and up, noticing the smoke movement. He covers his mouth and coughs.   "I don't know where that smoke is going but it might have clearer air to breath than here at least."  
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny nods as he listens to the group.

"As this is a dead end, let's head back the other way we can from, taking a left instead of a right, from the direction we came from."
Chambers
 Abonded Mine - West Hallway 

Leaving the slag pit and smoldering corpses behind, Johnny and Moira lead the way back across the iron tracks of the central room and further west. Sharkahan's light shows in grim detail the bottom of the corpse pile that leads to the floor above. The ground here requires a careful step to avoid the broken stone from the ceiling from when it caved in.

A passageway opens to the north and abruptly stops with jumbled rocks blocking any further passage.   "Can't tell if that was a natural cave in or...."   Father Josiah says and shrugs. Natural or not the passageway is at least clear of bodies, corpses, or anything at all except for a pair of iron tracks that dead end into the rockslide.

In the room past the corpse pile are some of the processing machines of the mine. Hand cranked conveyor belts that would take the ore dumped by the carts somewhere out past your sight, if the mine were operating.
Darius Vibrtrar
Sheild and sword ready in hand, Johnny looks over the machinery. He wants to make sure nothing is over looked, and no creatures are passed over, giving them the chance to attack from their flanks.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Processing Room 

Johnny walks past the corpse stairway and manages to keep his breakfast down. Ahead in the processing room the conveyors and crates shown in the flickering torch light are dusty and in poor condition. It's been months since this room was used for it's purpose or the machines serviced. In the far corner Johnny can see some crates stacked upon each other making a wall. On the stone floor in front of the crates he can see pools of dried blood and the dismembered limbs of at least one body.
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa, as always, kept close to the Priest, like both statue and shadow. Where-ever he went, she was by his side, shield ready to halt any attempt on his life and sword waiting to smite down whomever would attempt such blasphemy.

Arriving at the new intersection, the bodyguard stayed close to the Father, though she noticed Johnny's apprehension at the grisly scene around them.

 "Not your usual environment?"  she'd ask quietly, the hint of gentle teasing his her voice.
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny holds the inside of his forearm to his mouth. As if that could stop his gagging and retching .

"Nope... just a normal  retch  thing to see... just and average  gag  everyday exploration into the bowels of  retch  Insanity with my local priest.  This end looks clear. Lets  gag  head down the stairs?"

Johnny no longer wanted to see what was in those boxes.
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn would look over the scene in a bit of silence, as if recalling something.
He frowns at the littered corpses.  "I'm beginning to see a pattern here I don't like. Making the undead
work the mine as if they were digging for something. I'm concerned it may be more than just plain riches." 
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Processing Room 

Father Josiah looks around as if searching for a hidden door, one blocked by rubble perhaps.   "Is this all? Maybe down another hallway..."   He says to himself as the group enters the processing room.   "Work the mine?  " He asks.   "I wouldn't have thought  that  but maybe..."   The Father seems distracted by whatever output his internal reasoning machine is kicking out.

Sharakahns torch light sends flickering shadows over the sharp edges of the tools here. Either a trick of the light or something else caused one of the crates to shake a little.  Maybe it's the time spent down in the darkness making it seem as if the shadows are real. Shadows don't make noises though and something is now moving around behind the crates, bare flesh slapping on the stone floor, making the crates wobble as it bangs into them. Wheezing, followed by a deep hacking cough, then the unmistakable sound of a human voice -   "Hello....?"   The voice is weak and sounds like it hasn't been used for anything recently except for screaming.   "Is someone there?"  
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny, still filled with hope and optimism looks up to see the person and smiles raising his arm to great them.

"Hello! It's great to see a survivor! Come, Come over here please, tell us your name! I'm Johnny!"
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa's shoulders clenched when she heard the oddly humane voice down in this pit, the suspicion visible in her poster as she held her hand out to halt Johnny's advance - but it was too late.

Suspecting a trap, Zenoa stuck near the priest.

 "Come out from behind the crates and identify yourself!"  she said sternly.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Processing Room 
  "My name is Fallon...I would move, if I could..."   the voice says in response to Zenoa, and Johnny sees the truth of that when he lays eyes on the man. His age is hard to determine in the poor light and harsh living conditions. He's either an old man with poor health or a young man in extremely poor health. Both of his legs stop mid-thigh and he's wrapped layers of his ragged clothes around the stumps for padding as he drags them across the stone floor. His arms are thin and weak, his face and chest emaciated from obvious starvation. In the corner behind the man Johnny spots a pool of spring water formed from a crack in the wall. The stench of filth radiates from the man's shelter and himself, the fresh stench cutting through the dulled background saturation smell of the mine.

  "Do you have food?"   He asks Johnny with a wheeze that sounds like a chronic chest infection.   "I'm so hungry.."   He says and looks up at each of you.   "Please, get me out of here!"   The man's skin is spotted with sores and bruises and his arms and hands are covered in callouses and scars. In his shelter are scraps of clothes, some small mining tools and a cloth bag, all dirty and covered in some combination of mud, blood, or both.   "They just...just left me here!"   Fallon says with an ear piercing shriek. His eyes are wild and his breathing shallow as the relief of being found is replaced with panic at the idea of being left behind.

Father Josiah stays beside Zenoa and observes the man from a short distance. The man's poor condition does not seem to move the priest to much emotion. After a moment of scrutiny he half-closes his eyes and begins speaking a prayer under his breath while holding the sign of the Light in front of him.

 
 Spoiler 
For those with training in Spellcraft, Father Josiah is testing Spellcraft (Discern Aura)
 
Nightraiderx
 "Johnny be careful he his full of chaos energy.. that's not good." 
Sharakahn would take out a ration and throw it to the ailing man.
 "Now tell us, who left you behind and why did they come here?" 
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny stops and looks to the legless man.

"Thats no suprise. Look at him. He's barely holding on, he's probably been calling to anyone who would help him survive this. He's terrified, and probably worse."

He looks to the priest.

"I don't think we should leave him. It would be wrong. Gods above, if need be, ill strap him to my back and give him a sword to swing if need be."
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

The ex-soldier stared incredulously at the scene, as the man before them carried mortifying wounds that would have fell a lesser man. The poor devil had suffered not one, but  both  legs being amputated, followed by who-knows-how-long starvation, on top of the risk of infection such huge open wounds would invite in such filthy, shabby conditions. She knew that the mere shock of a wound could kill a man, yet this one had endured such an event  twice , so cleanly and neatly, yet had survived...

Her eyes remaining narrow, Zenoa stayed before the priest, this all seeming too perfect.

 "What happened here?"  she asked simply, her voice coming through the visor of her helmet.
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Processing Room 
  "Oh thank you! Thank you!"   Fallon says to Sharakahn as he scrambles after the hardtack and breaks it apart in his shaking hands. All questions wait as he eats the whole brick, choking on the dryness of the cracker but not stopping.   "So sweet!"   He says of the salted bread and drags himself over to his drinking pool for a handful of water. The adrenaline rush of his excitement begins to fade and he looks out at all of you with a more tired but also slightly calmer eye.

  "Thank you sirs, I hope if I held out long enough someone would come."   He says and coughs as he drags himself back to the front of the crates.   "I've been imprisoned here! Trapped! Left like a dog to rot and die!"   Flecks of cracker and spittle fly from his mouth as he works himself into excitement again.   "Those thugs who run the town now, they tricked me, let me in here and then came back later to seal me up. I was going to open the mine, I bought it from them, and they left me here to die..."   He says, sobbing with tears.

  "What happened with the cursed dead?"   Father Josiah asks.

Fallon stops sobbing for a moment and glares at the priest.   "I don't know! One day they started coming up from the ground, miners who had died here."   He rubs his mouth and face clean with the dirty rags he wears.   "I hid from them, and eventually the town found out, but the bastards left me here with the corpses! They took my legs! Said I didn't need them anymore. Gods above save me! Cruel, so cruel."   He says, invoking the powers above to help him.
Nightraiderx
Sharakahn frowns hearing the name of those bandits.
 "Well you have definitely earned a good reason for you to come with us as a witness." 
He hopes that the high levels of chaos do not cause an issue down the line.
Darius Vibrtrar
Johnny pulls out some rope from his belongings.

"Well alright, I'm gonna tie you to my back so you can come along with us, we won't leave you behind."

Johnny, unless stopped, turns the man into a backpack, and straps him to his own back.
BananaPhone
   Zenoa 

Zenoa watched and listened to the story unfold, the believability stretching for the ex-soldier. However...she didn't really  know  anyone in the town, so who was she to truly judge?

 "How long have you been here?"  she asked curiously.

 "And who exactly abandoned you...names. Be specific." 
Chambers
 Abandoned Mine - Processing Room 

Father Josiah nods along with Zenoa's questions, evidently approving of her skepticism. Fallon glances at her and then gathers up his loose robe to make it easier for Johnny.   "Thank you, noble, sir. Kind sir! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, thank you!"   He says to Johnny, his teeth chattering and shaking from the fear and excitement. He looks back to Zenoa and shakes his head.   "I'm sorry ma'am, I know not their names. How long ago....?"   He repeats and his eyes unfocus as he looks past Zenoa.   "Long nights....long  night , same night same day, all dark no rest, no sleep from crawling fingers, crawling hands, shadow thoughts crawl on cold fingers make hard sounds, hard to think..."  

Body to body, the smell and touch of the man's uncleanliness is almost overwhelming to Johnny. It's been months at least since he's had a proper bath or meal, though the lack of the latter at least makes him a light burden. The nauseating smell is worse than the extra weight.   "Please let us go now, please go now."   Fallon says, snapping his attention back to the group.   "Sometimes...I'm not alone here."   He says in a very quiet voice, shrinking down to hide behind Johnny.   "Sometimes they find me."  