Burgee continues his run towards the sounds and the faint vision through the darkness. As he arrives near Rose, he hears her prayers and yells to her, "We're coming," then he sees Paavu swarmed by the foul creatures. "Get ready, it may be a bumpy ride!" he shouts to Paavu as he grips his staff and comes within striking distance. (Position: p9)

move to W7

Unless the ghouls scatter all in different directions, Cirrus casts Faerie Fire, trying to get as many ghouls as possible (to reference the most recent map posted, that would put the top right corner of the 20 x 20 cube at n4). I realize this will likely get Paavu in there as well, but he's a big strong boy, he can take it. So all 5 ghouls and probably Paavu (depending on how they move in response to the Turn Undead. maybe I'll get lucky and all the ones around Paavu will run straight up and I he won't be affected at all.) make a DC 13 DEX Save. Any who fail shed dim blue light for 10 ft. "Now we can all see who's skulls need to be cracked." Attack rolls against affected creatures have advantage. 

He also casts Healing Word on Paavu, healing for 11

Bursting through the night, everyone in the area can hear a certain bear murderer cry out his defiance. Shuffling the creatures off him, even as he bled from several wounds in various places. The ghouls scatter around him, still surrounding the Goliath. In the distance, a bird and a gust of wind charge through the night to save the living statue. Cirrus extends his hand as soon as he can feel Paavu's pulse through thee weave, magical healing flowing into his body, helping  staunch some of his wounds.

Rose, finally catching her stride, and seeing Paavu in more trouble than it ever seems like he's been in recently. Smashing her hammer against one of the ghouls heads being met with a wet, dull thunk. Its at this point, she notices that these ghouls .. look just like the hobbs... all of them except 3 and 5 begin fleeing in the most direct opposite direction from rose that they could. The other two remaining to seek their prey.  As Cirrus see's them fleeing, he casts at about where he assumes their center would be, and a blinding blue flash erupts. Unfortunately all but two of them are effected by it. Luckily, Paavu is also not effected.

Burgee manages to find just barely an angle around the tree to attempt to hit 3, but the angle proves too difficult, and the spark dies without ever making a connection (missed AC by literally 1 oof) 

With only two ghouls retaining their courage, Paavu is under significantly less pressure, with one of the ones running away from Rose also running directly past Paavu.

Ghouls 3 and 5, with 5 glowing like a soft blue Christmas light both attempt to claw Paavu who found his way out of their paralysis. both of which miss horribly due to Paavu's readiness. Parrying and dodging them in kind. 

In the distance, a loud, thunderous explosion rocks the landscape.

 Party is up.

Paavu refrained from striking any that fled, learning his lesson from the last time. He would bide his time instead. Whatever relief Paavu feels in the knitting together of flesh only shows in his a less erratic breathe; but, no more than this. Gratitude and a lowered guard could wait for after the threat was deal with in short order. And yet, for a brief instance it did from the surprise from hearing thunder of all things. He catches himself mid glance back to check on the state of Burgee.

'The Dead First' He chided himself as he pushed back down concern. But nugget would remain lodged in the back of his mind of the boy and perhaps other undead having assualted Gwen's position...

"Do not let too many of get too far away, least we have to deal with them a second time later." Paavu calls back to the others, his voice deepening as he grew to the size of an Ogre. Swiftly came the head of Grol's Morningstar upon the ghoul lit up beside him. Twice over at that, if the first blow failed to fell it. But if it did, he turns on the one to the south in hopes of shattering its form. Only in success of felling both did Paavu finally looked back to Gwen's position; Rose's blessing extending his vision in the dark well beyond normal.

But with the amount of trees in the way, a scowling Goliath would eventually move in place to engage another monster.

Bonus Action: Activate Giant Form, gaining adv. on STR checks/saves, and additional 1d6 to damage.

Action: Attack w/ Grol's Morningstar.
To Hit - Attack: 19 For: 12 non-magical piercing damage at G5.

Adrenaline Surge:

Action: Attack w/ Grol's Morningstar.
To Hit - Attack: 20 For: 12 non-magical piercing damage at G5(if dead, then at G3 instead).

Movement(if both G3 & G5 is Dead): Go to N-4.

Rose was relieved to see the undead flee but also cursed her stout nature, being unable to keep up with the fleeing monsters. Were those the hobgoblins? What happened?  Shaking her head Rose tries to ignore the thought for the time being, deciding the worry about that when they weren't trying to kill them. Before running over to Ghoul 3 to try and strike it down Rose shouts Burgee, Cirrus, go after the fleeing ones! I can't keep up with them. Leave these two to me! Rose takes her hammer in hand and swings with all her might hoping to shatter bones and kneecaps.

Attack: 8 Damage: 6

Regardless if she hits or misses Rose would point to a spot next to the Ghoul (or any close surviving one) and shout for Selûnes Axe. A glowing axe of holy energy, blade shaped like the crescent moon, would appear and strike out against the nearest ghoul

Attack: 19 Damage: 6 (force damage)

Burgee hurries past Rose and Paavu yelling, "There's a storm coming!" as he continues toward several of the fleeing swarm. As he approaches one of them, his feelings surge and he is lifted by the wind and flies toward towards the ghouls fleeing towards the northwest. As he begins to land he lets out a cry in Auran and as he descends into the branches of one the dead tree a roaring thunder erupts from his outstretched hand towards ghouls 6 & 7. (CON DC13: 10 or half if passed.)  

(Position: j4 up in the branches)  

(Can I tell what the sound of thunder was? Was it natural thunder, Burgee's general stormy powers, or Gwen using thunder wave? I'll guess that would be Perception: 8)

Move to q1

Bardic Inspiration to Burgee

Cirrus Fires a crossbow bolt at 4, the one who is furthest away from the group. 8 to hit; 4 piercing damage.

Paavu chose the better part of valor, sitting where he was, and allowing as many of them to flee as possible. Finally striking out at 5, heading a crack but the ghoul turns its head around and smiles a toothy, mocking smile as it seemed as though it had barely been phased, so Paavu followed up with a backhand swing, finishing it off, it's body falling to the floor, and ceasing to glow as its un-life ended. Rose charging to assist Paavu in clearing out the ones who retained their wits. Her first attack misses as the ghoul moves unpredictably, unaware she was there trying to size up another time to attack the goliath.

Finally calling on Selune's aid, the verdant veridian axe appears and strikes out at the ghoul she had missed just a moment ago, ant it seems the appearance of the glowing weapon caught its attention as it sliced down into the ghouls head. Burgee flying in like a superhero, perching in the branches, and clapping his own cheeks sending a wave of thunderous force out. While 6 manages to keep its footing, 7 is blown away rolling back to its feet several feet away, looking barely worse for wear. The tree around him shaking and snow being blown out into the air. 

Cirrus ponders on what the sound was, but his own guilt and the present combat makes focusing on anything else difficult, if anything it sounded like a massive gunshot echoing to him and perhaps the open area made the echo indiscernible.

Burgee feeling as if he could almost truly fly as cirrus inspiring tone echoed through his mind like "I'm a barbie girl" in the 90's.  

Cirrus' bolt missing by a margin, and sailing into the snow.

Ghoul 3 spinning around and attempting to ***** slap Rose (DAO) before believing to itself that she would be much easier to eat, as a little Human-Nugget.... and while the ***** slap landed like a hammer against her face, sending her rolling just a little bit, it also helped her avoid the followup. Rose can feel that paralytic enzyme trying to force her to her knees, and she nearly succumbs, but manages to push it back out with Selunes help, avoiding paralysis. 

(Correction ,any damage breaks it.. so..)

6 & 7 being free'd from their holy terror by Burgee's spell, both charging back at Paavu, being intelligent enough to know they couldn't get to Burgee on his perch, but also preventing Burgee from taking AO's unless he has the warcaster feat. 

 6 trying to bite Paavu, but his teeth are met with air.

 Another explosion is heard, this time of the fiery variety and a faint flash lights up the night sky, but is too far away for any of you to notice unless your passive perception is 16 or higher. Paavu can tell that the explosion came from the direction the boy had been in.

Party is up, several ghouls are 'off map'

Cirrus sees the firelight, and his eyes widen in horror, "GWEN'S IN DANGER!" he shouts, taking off back towards Gwen and the boy.

Movement: Dashing to D1 

Cirrus sees the scene of Gwen attacked by monsters, and casts Healing Word, healing Gwen for (let's hope this is a lot) 9 points of healing. As he arrives on the scene he thinks to himself, "In retrospect, having one person all alone was not the best decision...

...it was...my decision...

...Gwen is going to die because of my actions... another innocent life will be cut short by my hands AGAIN." At this point, Cirrus is fighting back tears, fighting ghouls, and fighting this idea that he brings doom to all those around him.

Burgee climbs through the branches to the other side of the tree (Pos j4 --> l4  [small L]) to get a clear look at ghoul 3. As he finds a perch, he yells to the sky calling out her name "Umberlee! Curse these undead!" When he yells, the sky begins to crackle as a blue streak of lightning shoots out from him toward Ghoul 3. (Attack: 23 Damage: 7) Then he claps his hands together and motions toward the 2 creatures below to issue forth another thunderous force that builds outward from him (Pos: l4) and engulfs ghouls 6 & 7. (CON DC13 for 10 or half if passed.)

Concentration save: 12

Rose curses as her magical shield once again failed to protect her and she once again failed to keep the spell active. Rose glared at Ghoul #3, intent on destroying it when she heard Cirrus call out. Her eyes went at the thought of Gwen being alone and surrounded by enemies frightened and enraged her. Letting Selûnes holy Axe but into the Ghoul for her instead Rose would dash away heading for Gwen, accepting any attacks that come her way for doing so. (Making it.to V7)

Attack: 12 Damage: 9

Paavu is close to a ballerina in how he stepped and spun to and fro out of the way of the claws now; only bringing either shield or morningstar to bear to further off-balance his foe. As much as he yearned to truly revel in the conflict, ears and eyes sharpened by experience would not allow this to be. The call meant for another to check dies in his throat upon seeing Cirrus' bolt in the direction. So instead, he lets out a sharp whistle, signaling snow to come running.

Afterwards, he spun around with the morning star, aiming to decapitate at least one nipping at his heel."Do not lose your nerve. She will be fine. See to her after these two are dealt with." He said if the two nearby aren't finished off. And if they are, he walks northward, dropping grol's morning start to take out the Yklwa next.

Action: Attack w/ Grol's Morningstar.
To Hit - Attack: 8 For: 11 non-magical piercing damage at G3(or 6, if 3 is downed).

Movement: To 2-i, if both are downed(re-direct attack as appropriate if both downed before Paavu's "turn").

Cirrus dashes back towards Gwen after noticing the flash in the distance, hallucinating that he saw a bunch of monsters attacking when in reality it was just Gwen, and the boy, who had grown in size to appear more like a man, and who's face was covered in shadowstuff and blood, Gwen had been on the ropes until Cirrus had healed her. The area around her suggested she had been fighting him since not long after everyone left. 

Burgee waddles around the tree, and an arc of lightning goes from his hand to ghoul 3, and stays there, sending painful shocks down its body, while with his other hand forces out more booming thunder. Apparently both ghouls were thinking about going to 711 for a slurpee too distracted, and both get blown away, one of them, not getting back up, but 7 seems to still cling to unlife.

 As Rose begins to dash, she feels a light scratch at her arm, her concern for Gwen overpowering the enzymes, as she charges forward to save her milk-chocolate elf. Her axe making a swipe at ghoul 3 passively, and nearly bringing the creature down.

Paavu has been spinning and spinning and spinning, without realizing he was Dizzy, seeing Selunes axe having hacked ghoul 3 nearly to death he goes in for the finish, but its just then that his dizzyness catches up to him and Grols Morningstar goes flying into the distance, landing with a thud at n13. Paavu's movement speed is halved for one turn, due to dizziness, and his next attack is a flat roll.

Ghoul 3 is on its very last leg, and is clearly enraged it was going to be denied it, lunges at Paavu, trying to take one last pound of flesh! but one again fails to penetrate.

Seeing that he had been discovered, and cursing his luck, the caster of undeath curses beneath his breath. it seems you've won, harlot. But I will not go down, without taking as many of you with me as I can! LARLOCH WILL HAVE HIS DUE! and I still remember one spell from my days of life! Ahahahaha! pointing back at the group where the ghouls had been fighting, an orange bead is about to be sent flying, when Gwen shoots a bolt square through the boys head, killing him instantly, his head popping off from the force of the blow before Gwen fell to her knees from exhaustion for the moment. Shouting to Rose I"M HURT, ROSE, THAT YOU DO NOT TRUST ME, TO TAKE OUT MY OWN TRASH!

Wherever any ghouls still stood, they fell, collapsing to the ground like they had never been moving in the first place. It seems they were not created in the usual way, but instead, like most typical undead, they were bound to their casters life force.

"Hmm... Well that's odd!" Burgee exclaims as he hops down out of the tree and looks over at Paavu.  "You ok there big guy? You seem a little wobbly." He looks around at the fallen dead and then back up to Paavu. "You ever see anything like that? Creepies just dropping to the ground?" He looks back up at his companion, "Can you walk?  Rose took off back towards camp. I guess the blue boy did too. Let's head back." Burgee points south. "Your pointy club thing flew off that way. We can grab it on the way back." As they gather up gear and head back Burgee adds, "I could do with a rest. Hopefully they've got something cooking back at camp."

Rose relaxed when she saw the, well whatever it was, drop. Seeing that things were calmed down she put away her hammer and sighed in relief, and then was taken aback by Gwen's sudden outburst. And how was I supposed to know you weren't under attack by an entire swarm of undead? Am I supposed to hope you can take on a hoard of enemies alone? Because I don't know many capable of that. Besides it's my job to support, we had enough people fighting fleeing dead and you were alone.

"Paavu believes he stick to crushing blows." Paavu said after warding Burgee; a hand having been raised in a stopping gesture. With a few deep breathes and a few slaps to the sides of his head, Paavu is soon standing straight again, if albeit irrated at himself. "Paavu has seen many things. But... is uncertain. They're fall feels familiar. But just in case, Paavu will collect bodies and see to their burning. You return to rest. Make certain things are okay." He said as much. Although unlike most, he heard the shouts more than clear enough to guess at some things. It is by that point (assuming she had not fallen previously) then Yue finally reaches his side in answering the signal.

"Good Yue." The goliath kneels to pet her, if but haltingly due to his own mostly healed injuries. If Burgee insists upon helping with the bodies, Paavu doesn't stop him. He does in any case make a point of stabbing them with his Yklwa before handling one or two at a time. Over the course of the next hour though, he would be hard at work gathering them up into a large enough clearing(as well as retrieve the morningstar), prep the area for a bonfire for the undead, and see to their burning. And while not much of a holy man himself, he would try his best to emulate one of the prayers of Hephestus for destroyed constructs.

Religion: 21.

And did a pretty okay job at it.The whole argument between Gwen and Rose is largely tuned out, as getting involved in a lover's quarrel never went well for him in the past.

(I somehow didn't see Meh's post when I first made this one)

Cirrus is a little shell shocked, both form the heat of battle and the relief from the sight of everything turning out okay. "In her defense, I did scream that you were in danger like a madman when I clearly underestimated how well you can handle yourself in a fight," he says in an effort to direct some of Gwen's hurt feelings towards himself and away from Rose, "so she was likely feeling even more amped up for action as she was in pitched combat. In any case, fantastic work, Gwen!" Cirrus walks over to the body and gives it a kick in the head. "That kinda came out of nowhere, huh?" I would like to see what Cirrus might understand about what exactly this thing was. Since necromancy was clearly involved in this situation, I'll argue this is an Arcana check: 18. "Well, since the dead seem to have a problem staying that way around here, I think I'm going to try and make it hard for him to do much of anything if he does come back." Cirrus is going to start dismembering the remains of this undead spell caster using his short sword. After just cutting off the thing's head he notices Burgee and Paavu approaching and calls out, "Ah! Burgee, Just finishing up over here! Be a dear and light this on fire, will you?" He says gesturing to the decapitated man in the snow, the boy from before seeming to have vanished into thin air.

Paavu takes some time to properly dispose of the whitewalkers  undead, putting them into a pile, and with Burgee's help, setting them alight. While no prayers or response came, Paavu felt confident his prayer had been heard, simply lacking personal favor with the patron. Burgee, on the way back, assisting Cirrus in burning the boys body. The boy-thing seemed to have formerly been a boy who was corrupted by some dark power or another. Twisted into the creature of illusion and undeath that he was. 

The bodies of the man and woman by this point, were unidentifiable, and the nicest thing that could be done would be to burn them with the ghouls, to atleast prevent some other curse of undeath, just in case.  Regardless...

Gwen shouts back I know, I know, Geez moonbeam, you should learn to take a jest! You always did have trouble figuring out honest criticism from playful banter! she retorted, as she got to her feet with a sigh. She had scorch and fry marks over her body, but the actual wounds themselves had been healed by Cirrus. And Burgee quickly assisting in the burning of the boys body after cirrus attempts to chop off the already decapitated head.

Regardless of what anyone else does, you all eventually go back to the camp and settle back in. Everyone taking their turns on watch, but the rest of the night is quiet.

I will proceed after one more round of posting.

You all gain 80 EXP