Session 3: A Long Night Report
General Summary
The first night within the base camp was busy. Working well past sundown to bolster defenses, and store supplies for the days ahead was underway. Aria dispatched her cousin Selestiel and the Goblin Grikz to scout out into the surrounding area and keep an eye on things thru the night. Around 4 in the morning Selestiel rushed into the camp rousing those who had fallen to sleep, "The dead are coming!" In short order the two squadrons of House Guards had maned the walls and breach with their repeater crossbows. Members of the expedition also took up defensive positions, the Halfing Horatio scooting a crate along the wall to be able to see over with his pistols at the ready. As the hoards of dead advanced salvo after salvo of crossbow bolts rang out felling many but still they came. Amongst the mass of decaying bodies, exceptionally large and brutish figures could be seen.
At the makeshift front Bahzel met the coming hoard commanding the squadron of house guards. His hammer smashed into the form of the massive zombie brute, caving first its ribs then its scull as spears from the elven troops kept the others at bay as best they could. Aria buffeted them from above with magic as Daereth fired his last arrow before drawing sword and shield. Upon the western wall Nymeria let her crossbow sing with the volleys of the house guard. Isenara would fire hers as well before with drawing with Talindra closer to Lady Aria and the courtyard. The zombies would soon swarm the walls where Selestiels daggers would fly, cutting down the brute with Nymerias fire support and the house guards spears would fell the hoard. A second group crawling over themselves would swarm the ruined tower where Daereth, shield in hand would hold a narrow gap keeping them from Aria. On the eastern wall, Zaelith, Aelorna, and Horatio would hold back the swarms of undead pouring over the wall, but not before taking several small wounds.
As the battle seemed to be turning a scream echoed overhead and the night sky came alive with 4 flaming spheres the descended into the courtyard. Spitting fire the 4 flaming skulls would scream their way towards Daereth, Zaelith, and Talindra. Bazhel having pulled back with the threat destroyed would cover Daereth and crush on of the Skulls with his hammer. Talindras magic would surge out healing the expedition and draining the undeath from their foes. The last flaming skull would fall to Horatios pistols, the skull detonating as the others had done and knocking Zaelith unconscious. With the assault turned away, Aria would order the guards to clear the area and push a further perimeter out. "What happened to Grikz?" she would ask her cousin. Seleste would shake her head, "We got overwhelmed and I lost site of him." One of the bodies, missing its legs would start to move and shutter making its way further in, but moving curiously as its arms did not seem to pull it forward. "Kill them all, make sure none still move," Aria would order. "No Wait!" a frantic shrill voice would call as the corpse suddenly flipped over. Grikz was hearing the torso like a turtle shell, his strange goblin blade would flash cutting the ropes that held his disguise in place. With a look of relief Aria would nod to him. "Watch out for flaming things, Grikz saw them coming!" the goblin would nod vigorously. It seems the large villa to the north held some further secrets.
The next day, many sleeping in after the night assault, Aria would dispatch a scouting party to investigate the house. Taking most the day to get there and return, the more sneaky types would report a fairly quiet and locked home, with several zombies' moving about inside, and 2 distinct entrances. On the following day the expedition would set out to deal with whatever waited for them in the house. Nymeria would pick the lock upon the door and carefully open it. She would find 4 zombies moving about the halls, but not in the usually shambling way, these seemed faster, but not more observant. The expedition would push in quickly and dispatch them with little issue. A search of the cooking area of the old Mansion would yield several supplies still preserved as well as a curious magical mushroom staff. Nymeria would open what she thought was a hall way door, that instead lead to a large atrium with many dead within, she would shut the door quickly, "Right...not that way...."
