(036) The Remains of the Day

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
Wibert says quickly,"Lets run away, maybe we can find some high ground, or narrow opening to let them in one at a time, to attack with sword and oil." Wibert starts running with torch and curved elvish dagger in hand.

If he needs to fight he will drop the torch (upright if possible) and use the short sword and dagger on the attackers.

[waysoftheearth]

doctorx wrote:
"Some devilry is at work here," hisses Josiane as the blue light flares ahead; "Forward!"

And she makes all the haste she safely may, the blade of Jehan glittering in the arcane light like a cold, blue flame...

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:

A Passage between Vaults
(Pelenwin, Wibert, Desmond/Mondes, Olaf, Ulric, Dieter)

Olaf draws the archaic specter forth and utters the unfamiliar word of command and a tiny light of pale blue hue springs into existence, then blazes to dazzling brightness, hungrily eating the dark, so that all present are bathed in its white-blue glare.

Those ahead of Olaf (Pelenwin, Wibert and Desmond/Mondes) find the way amply lit all of a sudden, while Olaf, Ulric and Dieter's are forced to shield their eyes a moment.

"Ghad!" swears Mondes, "I think I liked not-seeing better!"

Desmond peers around Pelenwin and Wibert and gasps in fright! But after just a moment's hesitation, his developing fighting instincts start to kick in...

"Dieter, Ulric, we got undead headed our way. Should we retreat to the room behind us and take them on one at a time as they come out of the passage?"

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
"Sounds good to me!" Dieter barks, reversing course once again.

Once he's back through into the chamber, he'll position himself against the right-hand side (as he comes into the chamber), facing back out, so he can cover his retreating comrades.

Shield up, sword out, senses alert. Dieter is getting angry.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

"Sounds good to me!" Dieter barks, reversing course once again.

Once he's back through into the chamber, he'll position himself against the right-hand side (as he comes into the chamber), facing back out, so he can cover his retreating comrades.

Shield up, sword out, senses alert. Dieter is getting angry.

Olaf moves back with Dieter and takes up position on the left hand side of the entrance saying, "They don't like this light!"

"But one of you will need to hold it so I can use my sword and shield!" Olaf adds, "Quickly, someone hold it up. Raise it and say Aurora to make it light, and say (whatever the magic word to make it go out Olaf will say to whoever takes the scepter) when you lower it to make it go out."

I think the plan is for Dieter to be on one side and Olaf on the other and to attack the undead as they come in one at a time. Whoever is holding the light should be further back illuminating the area. If the undead won't approach the light we can try to force them back with it, but first we need to set up to attack them if they press forward.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
A Passage Between Vaults
(Dieter, Ulric, Olaf, Desmond/Mondes, Wibert, Pelenwin)

There is shouting of orders, and general confusion associated with another abrupt change of direction; those behind still pressing on, while those ahead are trying to back-pedal.

The blue-white glare of the scepter offends the rotting dead greatly and they surge forward with unwholesome vigour, such that Pelenwin is scarcely out of their horrible grasp as he follows the general retreat...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Second Vault
(Dieter, Ulric, Olaf, Desmond/Mondes, Wibert, Pelenwin)

The company hastily disgorge back into the second vault. Pelenwin's heavy coat of mail, and Desmond/Mondes and Wibert's short legs mean they can hardly make headway against the enemy that pursue them.

Olaf and Dieter have only a moment to ready themselves, either side of the passage opening, as the others tumble out. Olaf tosses the brilliant scepter through the air toward Ulric (seeing as nobody else is available) who (1d6=6!) snatches it out of the air with his free left hand.

Desmond/Mondes and Wibert are tumbling out of the passage, Pelenwin is only paces behind, and the reek of the dead roils out with them...

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The First Vault
(Josiane, Highbough, Dorgan)

The trio rush through the cold passage toward the first vault as the glaring light ahead of them recedes, and Josiane is barely able to stop in time to prevent herself from pitching into a deep pit! Highbough grabs the back of her collar and hoicks her back from the precipice.

They are slapped in the face by an overpowering stench of rot.

Ahead of them is a (rapidly darkening) triangular chamber which seems almost entirely filled by a vast, 30ft deep pit. A narrow stone stair ascends from the depths up toward this entrance, and also to another one at the far side of the vault, where a great parade of staggering corpses are disgorging from the pit to pitch and claw their way out the far passage, from whence the receding light cometh.

But now a knot of horrors, just visible in the pit below, jerk their horrid heads about, and immediately lurch toward the near stair, and begin to ascend toward Josiane...

(These half dozen are 30 or 40ft distant)

What now?

[waysoftheearth]

ehiker133 wrote:
Desmond hurries out of Olaf and Dieter's way.

"Mondes, let's also keep an eye on the other passages here and make sure nothing comes at us from behind!"

[waysoftheearth]

mushgnome wrote:
OOC: Am I picturing this correctly: The undead must come at us single-file up a narrow staircase? And there is a ledge where the mages and archers can get a clear shot down at the horde coming up the stairs?

How about the passage behind us, how wide? 1 abreast, 2 abreast, etc?

Is there a hook or ledge where Highbough can safely place his lantern?