Chilling Adventures in the North

(OOC: I'm confused? What was there to puppet? It wasn't Bjorn's turn was it?)

(OOC: It was Bjorn's turn after Qinfaren's. Let me know if you want to do something different)

If any of the zombies facing Arogna and Shad stand their ground and do not run away when Shad commands them to, Arogna will attack the nearest with her axe. If they all run, she will move up by Muharg and attack any of the next rank that do not run. If they all run away, she will duck behind the pillar and shout at Muharg to do the same.

Warhammer 2h 9 to hit for 6 +2 (rage) damage

Arogna moves in next to Muharg and attacks the nearest zombie with her warhammer. With just enough room to swing her hammer, her strikes the zombie across the skull.

(Muharg's turn.)

After tasting what Skarde is capable of, Muharg grits his teeth and decides a more careful approach is in order. He swings his axe at the closest unturned zombie and finds cover from Skarde behind the pillar.

”Thank you Shad!”

Attack: 14 for 11 magic slashing damage.

Sacred weapon 8/10

Muharg swings his axe cutting a huge chunk out of the zombie before retreating behind the pillar leaving Arogna behind.

The zombies that are now closest to Arogna move to surround her before attacking.

(Zombie 1: 12 Damage: 4 bludgeoning damage
Zombie 2: 16 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. bludgeoning damage
Zombie 3: 16 Damage: 3 bludgeoning damage)

The remaining zombies close the distance to Shad, Muharg and Qinfaren before attacking.

(Zombie 4 attacks Shad: Attack: 8 Damage: 6bludgeoning damage
Zombie 5 attacks Muharg: 6 Damage: 7 bludgeoning damage
Zombie 6 attacks Qinfaren: 9 Damage: Unable to parse dice roll. bludgeoning damage)

Artus then places the corpse slayer dagger and phylactery on the floor by the pillar, "If one you stabs the phylactery then I fill finish Skarde himself."

With that Artus runs out from behind the pillar, leaps into the air and plunges his sword into Skarde's chest. Skarde's let outs a yell of pain as the long blade pierce's into his body.

"You fool, the phylactery is still intact."

"Not for long!"

(Shad's, Qinfaren, and then Bjorn's turn.)

Shad jumps to the dagger and the phylactery. He stabs the large slab with the corpse slayer dagger: 25 to hit, if necessary, for 7 damage.

If the phylactery is obviously destroyed, he dances. If it is not, he pulls it, the dagger, and himself behind the pillar, hoping for full cover.

Shad dives for the dagger snatches up the phylactery and stabs it with the corpse slayer dagger. The phylactery cracks, shudders and then explodes in a gout of green flame. At the same Skarde also crumbles and breaks into chunks on the floor. With the source of the necromancy keeping the zombies animate now abated they turn to dust where they stand.

Artus tumbles to the floor before picking himself up and turning to all of you.

"It looks like you arrived with just exactly what I needed to put an end to Skarlde and his undead army. Thank you."

Qinfaren checks on his friends to make sure they're all okay before taking his staff and poking one end at the broken remains of Skarde.

"So," he says over to Artus. "How long have you been fighting this Skarde? We picked up that dagger for delivery quite awhile back?"

Qinfaren then turns from the broken, crumbled remains of Skarde and goes over to Artus.

"Are you hurt? Do you need help?"

Shad will sit up slowly. He will leave the dagger he used on the phylactery on the floor and consider the bare patches of flesh where his skin was frozen off. "That could have been much, much worse," he says. "Do you think this place is safe now, Artus? Could we rest here?"

Arogna pokes at the dust with her foot, and sneezes. "Better out in the fresh air, I reckon."

Artus nods his head, "Aye, this place should be safe now that Skarde is finally defeated."

He then turns to Arogna, "If you don't fancy sitting down here in the remains on zombies and Skarde, then there is always the chamber upstairs. Though I killed a few undead creatures up there before you arrived, in the entrance cave as well. Still it would be warmer inside than out on the mountain. Unless you want to head back to Caer-Konig now. Either way, I intend to stay with you until you arrive back in Caer-Konig, it's the least I can do since you made the trip up here to deliver that dagger."

Artust then turns to Shad, "You can keep that by the way, I don't intend to be facing any more undead creatures any time soon. Once we make it back to Caer-Konig I am done with the north. Too many enemies. You'll need that dagger to stay alive if plan to stick around here. Consider it payment."

He then heads over to the stairs, "Whatever your plan is let me know, but I will be waiting in cave entrance. The cold never bothered me anyway."

"I think we mighta killed them again. An' you got the gold for us when we get back to town, right?" Arogna asks, trotting after Artus. "Right?"

She turns around and looks at the others. "Let's get outa this mess. You can sit under a heap of blankets, Shad."

Having not done much during the fight, Bjorn just listens before asking, "Do you know anything about the all the undead that has been appearing in the north recently? Are they all tied to this Skarde? Is it over then? No more undead? The north is safe?"

Shad will pick up the corpse slayer dagger. "I'm enjoying collecting daggers," he says, "but if any of you would like to carry this instead, please let me know." He will tuck it deep in one of his coat pockets until asked for it.

"I hope the north is safe now or at least safer," Shad says to Bjorn. "Sleeping farther away from this dust is fine with me."

(OOC: I don't see "corpse slayer dagger" in DNDBeyond's equipment list, TheBritGeek. Do you have stats for it? Would anyone else like to carry it?)

Muharg sniffs and adjusts his belt. He then looks at his glowing axe and secures it to his belt, its light fading away. “There’s so much we need to learn, still.” Says as he shakes his head checking his wounds. “Thank you Artus, we wouldn’t have stood a chance against this aberration.”

He then looks at his friends “I’m glad we all made it alive! And look at you, Shadow of the Mountain, Conqueror of Seas, Slayer of Liches and Dagger Collector!” Says as he pats the tabaxi on the shoulders. “Not to mention another successful delivery, right, Arogna?”

“You are right, lads, let’s move upstairs for a rest, this place reeks of undead.”

Qinfaren pats Shad on the back.

"Daggers and knives really, aren't for me?" Qinfaren says. "Besides, you've shown how capable you are with it."

He then starts to move with the others upstairs for a breather.

"You may not be bothered by this cold," Qinfaren says as Artus leaves the chamber, "but it definitely seems to get dark early here and that can't be enjoyable for anyone."

He looks over at Muharg and nods.

"Yes, let's take a rest upstairs then head to Caer-Konig." 

"Yes a rest will be much appreciated," Bjorn nods in agreement as he waits to hear if Artus will give an answer.

(OOC: If Artus does not answer, Bjorn will probably follow after him in an attempt to get an answer.)

When Bjorn catches up with Artus, he finds him standing looking out at the mountain, he asks him the question again, "Well, I am aware that Skarde was building himself an army of undead for conquest over the north. It's possible that some other undead are a result of his actions. But there are other things in the north. It is dangerous out there. You will have to keep your wits about you."

Bjorn nods as he listens before saying, "On our way here, we were attacked on our ship by undead monsters. Skeletons bound together to form a whole. It could even produce new skeletons by vomiting them out. I can't help but hope it was all related to Artus and we have now dealt with the cause."