Red Dead Annihilation: Campaign Thread

Meili lands a series of crushing blows on the western most zombie, which seemed completely caught off guard as she loomed out of the darkness to strike.  She succeeded in separating the rotted pelvis from the torso.  The creature's legs continue to march northward for a few more paces before falling still at last.

Mica connects with both of his axes, carving grey flesh from his foe, but failing to put it down.

Velan wanted to advance so the undead on the other side of the pool would be inside his spells’ range, but the proximity of not one but two zombies dissuaded him from the idea. He would be of no help flanked. Quite the opposite, he would be likely to demand some extra healing. The single most important resource they had right now. Will Fire Bolt be able to finish one of them? He doubted, but it there was no guarantee Magic Missile would either.

“Inete, do you know a damage dealing cantrip?” He asked still debating mentally what Evocation to use. “If you do, focus on this one.”

The wizard said once again chanting the arcane words for Fire Bolt. His target was the same, his moves for the cantrip were the same. Soon enough he would start using his energies to defend himself. At least, he pondered, there is hope. Mica was up and fighting again, that increased the north group chances of falling their exanimates before the reinforcements from south arrived. Reinforcement from south... He thought deciding to focus his mind on Ninlil for but a moment, probing if she saw anything else approaching. No further warning had come from her since the attacked started and Velan could only hope it continued that way.

Notes: Velan asks Ninlil if she sees some new threat and keeps using Fire Bolt on the wounded zombie.

Spell Attack: 10
Damage: 7

((OOC: Just realized I'd forgotten to do a CON save to see if Danica's Entangle stays up: 15 ))

Rather than help the capable ranger to his feet, Danica attempted to guard him against the zombie that had knocked him out, apparently having earned its ire for undoing its work. But her wheel shield took its attacks well. Gritting her teeth, the elf's eyes darted between this zombie and the much more deadly threat that their guide was currently locked horns with. "Hang in there Hew, we're coming!" She tried to reassure, not wanting to risk getting hit in the back again if she tried to dart away from this zombie. So assuming it was still standing, she would position herself opposite of Mica with the zombie in between to try to slash at its arms with her scimitar. But if the earth genasi was able to take it down, she would sprint to the other side of Hew to try the same with the deathlock. 

Attack: 16  //  Damage:  4

Velan's fire bolt catches the nearest zombie full in the chest, igniting the ragged remains of its hide clothing.  The creature is terribly burned, but it continues its slow advance even with most of its torso on fire.

Danica successfully slices off the arm of the zombie menacing her and Mica.  It too looks like it has taken too much damage to continue... yet continue it does, unholy blue light still streaming hatefully from the sockets of its missing eyes.

Inete looks at Velan in response to her question and can only give a concerned 'no' shake of her head, drawing a dagger instead and readying in case a zombie closes within range.

The undead wizard looks past Hew at the state of the battle.  Some of its zombies have fallen and it is locked in physical combat with the most capable warrior.  Its jaw drops open wider and lower than seems physically possible, and it hisses out a long word, "Mo-o-o-j-ka!"... and disappears!   Hew attempts a quick stab at the space where the creature had been, but meets only empty air.   "Dammit all to hell!  Come back and fight me!"

(OOC - Not sure if any zombies are between Ran and Velan/Inete).

Ran continues moving to get to Velan and Inete. He's seen how capable the wizard is in a fight, but he also saw the damage one of these things did to Mica. Putting some armor in the way wouldn't hurt.

If there's a zombie on the way after using 30' movement, Ran will attack it but if not, he'll dash to get in front of Velan to use himself as a shield for the other two to fight from behind.

Attack if available - Attack: 17  plus Bless of 4  Damage: 13  

Bonus Action - Dual Wield/Two Weapon Fighting - Attack: 16  plus Bless of 2  Damage: 9  

The only zombie Ran could reach in 30' would take him further away from Velan and Inete, so instead he dashes to get between them and the advancing zombies.

Hew searches for the vanished undead caster, then turns his attention to the zombie between Mica and Danica.  "Quit wastin' time with these heel-draggers!  Find that finger-wiggler!"  

Attack: 14 Damage: 10

Attack: 21 Damage: 7

Hew skewers the zombie twice, running his rapier through its mouth and out through the top of its skull.  It falls.  "Stay close, but keep your eyes and ears open..." he says to Danica and Mica as he takes a few cautious steps south.

The remaining zombies are clustered around the south now.  Only one is close enough to attack - the same one Velan had set on fire last round.  It closes on Ran and scratches at his face with its filthy undead fingernails.

Attack: 7 Damage: 3

Velan: 

It was hard to keep the track of the monsters in the darkness of the tropical night, but the next stumbling zombie was, fortunately, moving by the fire, exposing itself. Meili attacked from the shadows hoping if not to destroy (as the previous one), then at least to slow down the creature.

Attacks on the central zombie (40ft should be enough to reach?)

Sword: Attack: 19 Damage: 4

Kick: Attack: 11 Damage: 7

Mica nods at Hew “Where did the bugger go?”  He looks warily around for sign of the Deathlock or any other threats in the darkness.  Perception: 8.

Aware that there is still fighting to the south, he carefully moves thirty feet back towards his tent and Meili and stows his hand axes, preparing to draw his bow.  Still wincing from his wounds, he plans to turn the remaining zombies into pincushions.

Under his breath he could not help but to curse his luck. Ninlil had found a new enemy, at least in potential. The only solace he found in the fact was that whatever it was, the perched creature didn’t enter the fray. And it likely wouldn’t. As far as it could see it was easier to simply observe, to wait for one of the groups to fall, leaving the other weakened. Opportunistic, maybe intelligent, the wizard said to himself, more worried with the approaching undead. Inete have answered his question with a blade, meaning that it was better to keep anything from getting close to her. Velan was about to shout for her to stay behind him, something he never imagined to say to anyone, after all he was a wizard, not an armored fighter, and to run from there if he were to fall when Ran intercepted the closest of the zombies.  

“There’s a winged creature, large sized, by the palm trees!” He warned as the waterdhavian repelled the zombie’s offensive. Keep watching from distance and be careful, he commanded Ninlil perceiving the absence of the enemy spellcaster. “Let’s hope I’m not doing this too early.” The hexblood basically whispered. “Tormenta!”

His mind turned to the monster engaged with Ran, worrying about the possibility of the fighter being surrounded, send three darts of force. The exanimate was hurt by his flames. There should be a good chance of it being defeated by the spell.

Notes: Velan will say to Ninlil keep watching the surroundings and not approach. Then he uses Magic Missile on the zombie he have been hitting (all three darts). If the zombie is killed before the three darts being spent I would like for the remaining strikes to be redirected to the closest enemy.

1st Dart Damage: 3
2nd Dart Damage: 4
3rd Dart Damage: 4

Meili closes on her next target and lands both of her attacks, though this zombie doesn't fall so easily as the last one did.

Mica draws his bow and trains his senses on the hunt for the invisible caster, but he detects nothing over the sound of battle to the south.

Two of Velan's missiles slam into the burning zombie, the second one exploding its chest in a flash of grime and gore.  The third mote of force redirects and strikes the next zombie to the south.

Ninlil maintains its distance but keeps a careful eye on the mystery visitor in the treetops.

ROUND ... SIX?

• Meili
• Mica 
• Velan
• Danica
• Inete
• Deathlock
• Ran
• Hew
• North Zombies
• South Zombies

Danica would spin around as she heard an undead voice cry out some strange word followed by Hew cursing at it to find that the zombified spellcaster had seemingly vanished. Taking Hew's advice to heart, she slowly tried to keep pace with him to the south, turning in place slowly as she did so, green eyes scanning the vicinity for any hint or trace of where their foe had gone or if it was still present but invisible. "Guide my eyes and ears Moonmaiden..." She quietly prayed. 

Perception: 14
Guidance:  4

Danica: 

Inete clutches her holy symbol and intones, "Keep o ulcu."  Then she reaches out to touch Ran's shoulder.  He feels a comforting warmth fill his spirit as the effects of protection from evil and good take hold.

From the north side of the pool, two black bolts of necrotic energy appear and race toward their targets.  Having had time to observe the party, the undead caster has selected the two most important resources to eliminate... arcane magic, and healing.  And so it strikes from invisibility, targeting Velan and Danica.

Velan:  Attack: 17 Damage: 7

Danica: Attack: 13 Damage: 8

The attack breaks its spell of invisibility.  It fades back into view, 5 hexes northeast of Mica's tent.  It laughs and calls out in a strange, harsh tongue, "Mrith dout deaths, si geou earn vi seat unsinti wer throne di wer loex ithquent!"

Ran raises an eyebrow as the energy from Inete floods into his body. But the feeling of calm is quickly replaced by an urgent need to deal with the remaining undead.

The zombie mage is still the most dangerous but it appears to be back on the other side of the damn pool he just got around. Instead he focus on the zombies coming this way. He moves to intercept the closest, slashing out quickly with both longswords.

Action: Attack: 9   Plus Bless of 2  Damage: 10  

Bonus: Attack: 11  plus Bless of 2  Damage: 6  

The caster's laughter dies in its throat as it realizes its sneak attack failed to bring down either of its targets.

Hew wheels and moves toward the enemy.  Unable to reach it and strike this round, he slowly closes to within 10 feet, readying a dash to keep up with the creature if it tries to flee in any direction.

Ran's attacks have left the zombie he is facing in tatters, but it is still able to muster an attack - though the spell protecting Ran seems to give it unusual difficulty, as though he is a shining light, too bright for the undead to look straight at... Attack: 4 Damage: 5

The zombie engaged with Meili turns and tries to bite her with its disgusting, tongueless mouth.  Attack: 4 Damage: 3

The last zombie, late to the party due to Mica's trap, is still plodding slowly north.

ROUND SEVEN

• Meili
• Mica 
• Velan
• Danica
• Inete
• Deathlock
• Ran
• Hew
• South Zombies