Chapter 12: Shadows in the Dark

[Jeff]

Already badly wounded by Adamant, Syrdan's second stroke looks like it will cleave the elder wight (Rarrun, Belarin knows) in two. His torso is ruptured, bisected into two halves falling away from one another, yet the wight's undead stamina keeps him upright...just barely/. His eyes flare angry white in response to Syrdan's own holy display.

[Ken]

Belarin feels the dark energies of the candle draining him – it’s slight, but consistent and pernicious enough to be concerning. He focuses on the one visible wight under his control and mentally commands, Crav, return to the safety of a tomb. You will not feed today.

He then intentionally makes his voice sound as foreboding as possible as he calls out to the lead wight, “RARRUN! I am an invited guest of the ir’Serells! Your rash behavior has nearly destroyed your clan. Desist now, and I will spare your sons from oblivion! Continue, and they are dust.”

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Belarin is lying to Rarrun in that he has no intention of stopping his friends from wailing on the undead.Bad warlock!
Deception check: 1d20 (6) + 6 = 12.
As that takes an action, I believe, he’ll use a bonus action to command Wight #3 (Crav) to get inside the closest tomb, as described above.
He takes 1 more point of necrotic damage.

[Jeff]

Belarin knows that Crav will comply, while Rarrun merely defies him and wants no mercy for the trespassers now!

Round 3 begins!

20 - Condign
20 - NPCs (Larest, Sem, Rinti)
19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - the wights
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Brian]

Condign takes aim at the undead thing directly in front of him. He tries to draw the monster out of position with a low feint to its legs, then switches to an overhand chop at its head, which is followed by a thrust up into its gray-skinned abdomen.

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Standard Action: Attack Wight #3 (Crav) with his sword, and using his extra attack to swing twice.

Attack Rolls: (1d20+7=18, 1d20+7=18)

Attack Rolls: (1d8+4=9, 1d8+4=9)

[Jeff]

Condign's attacks tear two massive wounds into the wight before him. His sword raises to parry each swing, but the tiefling is stronger and simply smacks through the undead warrior's defenses.

Just then, a terrifying and shrill scream cuts through the air, originating somewhere back on the main floor. It's Rinti. The sound is immediately followed by the frenzied barking from Tangat. The sound raises the hair on Kal's arms immediately, anxiety flowing into him from his familiar but also from the sound of fright from his young charge. Having heard similar sounds before as a bearer of the Mark of Sentinel, Kal quickly realizes that it's a scream of fear, not pain.

Not yet.

Sem's voice comes shouting down the stairwell, his words coming rapidly in the way of gnome speech. "We, ummm....have company. I can, well, stall them briefly. But some assistance would be, umm, appreciated!"

Streko looks up, keenly aware of the situation, and knows that his friends can take care of themselves down on this level. He ducks and moves away from the wight near him, sprinting back up the steps with his gleaming sickle in hand. When he reaches the ground floor, he looks quickly around: Larest and Sem Darlesh are closest, with Rinti and Tangat are a little further away. It looks like the girl tried to run for the exit, but the path must have been cut off because she is stopped now, with Tangat in position in front of her, snarling at something Streko can't see around the corner.

Streko can also see that a mass of sticky strands clings to everything on the north side of the room, between the central mausoleum room and the stairs up. Thrashing (mostly in vain) inside those webs are more zombies, who are clearly intent upon the living. They must have come from the level above. The magical web must have originated from either Larest or Sem.

___________________________

In light of Joe needing to run to the rescue in real life, I'm having Streko do so here, too. It's consistent with both their characters.

Streko disengages (allowing no opp attacks) and moves.

15 - Adamant
14 - wights, zombies
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

Edit: Note that unless Joe returns and wants otherwise, he can use Turn Undead again (likely more effective against lowly zombies, too) because at his level, he can use Channel Divinity twice between short rests. So no real loss of resources there (unlike casting a spell).

[Dave W.]

Adamant wants to run and help his companions upstairs when he hears the sounds of battle. But he trusts Streko to call if he needs help.

"Belarin may be hearing voices again," Adamant calls to Condign. "Do you know this Rarun?" Without waiting for a reply, the warforged's sword slashes again and again at the wight he has engaged.

"Syrdan, when this creature falls, I will swing over to help Condign if you can deal with that over there," he points his sword to indicate the zombie to the northeast.
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I was tempted to bless the party but I think we've got this so I'm going to hold on to that... may regret it later.

Standard Action: Two longsword attacks vs W4...

Two Longsword attacks vs W4 (1d20+7=16, 1d20+7=19)
Hoping at least one of those hits.... damage:

damage (1d8+4=10, 1d8+4=6)

Movement Action: If W4 falls, Adamant will move NW to stand next to Condign.

Reminder: Protection fighting style will impose disadvantage on an enemy attacking one of my allies w/i 5', I think that's just Condign unless other folks move.
Reminder 2: Aura of Protection, when making those saves, if you're w/i 10' of Adamant you get a +3.

[Dave B.]

With the wall of fire blocking his view of the wight currently in possession of his boomerang, Shorak draws his short sword with his free hand as he steps in beside Kal and thrusts it at the wight currently attacking Kal.

Piercing attack on wight #6 (1d20+8=10)

[Darren]

Kal feels the overwhelming urge to rush up the stairs and aid Rinti. He put her into this situation. What was he thinking, bringing the girl along? The wight who swings at him, though, keeps him from breaking away. He turns his attention inward, pushing out with his emotions towards Tangat. He can feel the wolfdog's will to fight, and his need to protect Rinti merge's with Tangat's. Heat burns inside of Kal and fire fills his vision. "Make them suffer," he whispers.

________________________
Kal will use his action to grant Tangat the ability to deliver Burning Touch on whichever zombie he thinks is most appropriate, but probably the one immediately in front of him.

Burning Touch attack (1d20+4=13)

I assume it was +4? I was basing it off of Tangat's bite attack modifier...

[Jeff]

Though Kal can't see it, he feels his spell discharge as Tangat slams into his chosen opponent and even bites through foul cloth and flesh. The rotting smell of the zombie assails the dog's keen nose and Kal can almost smell it himself through their link. Then comes the acrid stench of burning flesh. Through Tangat, Kal knows that the zombie is savagely injured, but it's still on its feet and lunging forward.

Tangat's bite attack hits zombie. damage (1d6+2=5) piercing damage to zombie
Zombie's Dexterity saving throw (1d20-2=6) (failure) against Burning Grasp
Burning Grasp damage (2d8=6) fire damage to zombie

5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Mike]

Nov 5, 2014 10:11:18 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"Syrdan, when this creature falls, I will swing over to help Condign if you can deal with that over there," he points his sword to indicate the zombie to the northeast.

"But of course," Syrdan shouts to the warforged, as the wight before him crumples and falls. "What sort of slayer of undead would I be if I didn't."

He holds his sword in one hand as the zombie lurches forward, smiling and waiting patiently ... and as the foul creatures makes a grab for him, he sidesteps the attack, taking the hilt of the sword in both hands as he unleashes two vicious slashing attacks.

_________________________________

Syrdan moves 1 square north, putting himself directly between Adamant and the zombie.

Standard Action: Attacking the zombie, using his Extra Attack ability.

Attack roll: (1d20+1d4+8=28, 1d20+1d4+8=21)

Damage roll: (2d6+5=12, 2d6+5=8); damage is also radiant.

[Jeff]

Syrdan's blade swishes through his dead foe like a hot Thrane knife through soft Karrnathi butter. Flesh comes peeling off, bones snap, and the zombie's body jerks this way and then. It staggers and moans, and even fully impaled by his sword it still reaches for him...

20 damage to the zombie. Definitely in terrible shape now, but still standing. I'll update the maps later.

Mike, can you remind me where that additional +1d4 is coming from in your attack rolls? I'm mind-blanking. It can't be from Adamant's Bless, since I believe he didn't case it. But offhand that's the only thing I can think of that does that. Just remind me! Regardless, those are both hits.

[Ken]

"Finish off the wights - they control the zombies," Belarin says in a commanding voice from the darkness. "I've got two of them under my sway, including the one who just crawled inside the tomb." He mentally orders, Crav, stay in the tomb. Torgen, I know you are frightened - stay where you are.

"As for you, harridan," he says, raising a finger at the female wight, "You do not obey? / So your brains I'll spray!" A beam of crimson-and-silver energy erupts from his hand.

_______________

Belarin invokes eldritch blast at Wight #6.
Attack: 1d20(16) + 6 = 22 .
Damage: 1d10(1) + 3 = 4 points.

Belarin takes 1 more point of necrotic damage, which I've already marked off on the Quickstats.

[Jeff]

The female wight throws a glance back toward the flaming wall, as if irritated her reinforcements are not arriving because of it. When she looks back, Belarin's blast of energy throws her off balance and she has to shift a foot back to regain it. She hisses, "I will make you one of mine, curr!" she promises him.

Round 4 begins!
20 - Condign
20 - NPCs (Larest, Sem, Rinti)
19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - wights, zombies
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

I accidentally deleted my previous post. Hope it wasn't anything important.

[Brian]

Condign disengages from the undead creature he had been fighting as it moves away, perplexed by this development until Belarin informs the group of his control over the fiend. Amazed at some of the feats his friends can perform, he shifts his focus to the creature in front of Kalarian.

Turning, Condign takes two mighty hacks at it, his sword flashing in the light given off by Adamant.

___________________________________________

Movement Action: shifts one square west.

Standard Action: two attacks against wight #6(?) with his longsword.


Attack Rolls: (1d20+7=16, 1d20+7=18)


Damage Rolls: (1d8+4=12, 1d8+4=10)

Invisible Castle locked up on my first damage rolls. Not sure if it even went through. I rerolled the damage.

[Jeff]

The she-wight snarls at Condign as his sword cuts into her twice. She seems to consider him over Belarin now...

On the ground floor, a gesture from Sem Darlesh sends three magic missiles blasting into the zombie assailing Larest. Meanwhile the nobleman, sweating from the situation, dares to move around his foul-smelling foe to get closer to the webbed zombies. He speaks an arcane phrase and points with his wand toward the web. A five-foot-wide sphere of roiling flame appears admist the webs!

"Be careful, be careful!" Rinti shouts at Tangat, backing up until she reaches Sem's position.

Sem's magic missiles deal (3d4+3=11) for damage to the zombie attacking Larest.
Larest casts flaming sphere. (On their turn, the webbed zombies will make Dex saves, which they are disadvantaged against.)

[Dave W.]

Adamant follows Condign's lead and moves to fight the last independent wight. "So, not just voices in your head this time, Belarin. Good. We will look to you for advice on dealing with this creature you've befriended."

Adamant swings on the wight.
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I'm going to go ahead. Technically it's Streko's turn but he's upstairs so I think it's safe for me to post... If not, we can just hold on this this one for a bit...

Movement Action: 1 square W.
Standard Action: Two longsword attacks vs W6...Longsword vs W6 (1d20+7=14, 1d20+7=27)

Not sure if the first is a hit. If it is damage is: First hit damage (1d8+4=10)
The second is a crit, I think we just roll the damage twice for that, right?Crit damage (2d8+4=15)

I had the same issue with the roller site... My first attack roll just locked up and never came back. Wierd. Wondering if they're doing an upgrade or something?

Reminder: Protection fighting style will impose disadvantage on an enemy attacking one of my allies w/i 5', I think that's just Condign unless other folks move.
Reminder 2: Aura of Protection, when making those saves, if you're w/i 10' of Adamant you get a +3.

[Joe]

Streko dodges and weaves his way between Sem and Larest. His goal is to find out what's happening his Tangat and aid him to the best of his ability. e stops ten feet in front of Rinti, watching the nightmare unfolding ahead of him.

A Zombie looms over his canine friend. Without a second thought, he quickly calls out to Olladra, once again requesting her aid in turning the unnatural enemies away from his friends.

"Olladra, more foul undead creatures come to claim our spirits.
Send them away with the blessed light of your being.
Turn their hate away from we are your servants and
give them the mercy they deserve and would give unto us.
I pray to thee, blessed Olladra!"
_____________________________________________________________________________

Streko will do his second Turn Undead here in an effort to save Tangat and give everyone time to regroup.

[Jeff]

The she-wight tries to parry Adamant's first wing, but the force of the blow drives her own blade back down to bite into her shoulder. His second is fearsome, and nearly cuts her in half. Her face is frozen in anger as her body hits the ground and lies still. The blood is minimal, her long hair is cast over her face. A glimmer of her hate is diminished as the white-fury of wight-undeath is extinguished, and Adamant can see that the truth person, whoever she was, has been released.

And then you hear new rustling: the zombies behind the wall of fire begin squeezing through the side, so far not in the path of the blazing heat. Two arrows some zipping out of that dark corner. The first one rings loudly as Adamant stretches out his long warforged arm and deflects one headed for Kal. The second passes under the shield and takes Kal in the gut! Kal feels the bite of the arrowhead through his armor, but the armor kept it from being too serious a wound. Looking up, you can see the archer wight (with Shorak's boomerang still embedded) standing atop the sarcophagus the zombies are surging around.

Upon the ground floor, Streko's spiritual fervor rolls out again. Standing behind Tangat, he sends out the ripple of holy light. It hits the zombies like a mighty wave, and as it does lifts them both off the ground and turns them into dust! Tangat's ears go up, confused, as his foe is completed obliterated.

Ground floor zombies' Wisdom saving throw (1d20-2=6, 1d20-2=10) (failure, failure)
Both zombies in front of Tangat are utterly destroyed by Streko's Turn Undead!
Wight #5's longbow attacks (1d20+4=17, 1d20+4=11) (disadvantaged due to Adamant, miss)
Wight #5's second longbow attack (1d20+4=16) (hit) / longbow damage (1d8+2=7) 7 piercing damage to Kal

Darren, I figured you'd want to save Kal's armor's ability of halving the damage from one hit for something that deals more than 7 hit points of damage.

12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Dave B.]

Shorak watches the wight drop under Adamants attack, then hears the unmistakable twang of a bow string, quickly followed by the clatter and muffled thump of two arrows. One of them is sticking out of Kal. Shorak makes his way around Kal and said arrow, being careful not to bump into the flight. He quickly moves to the bottom of the stairs, passing between Adamant and Syrdan, Shorak stops at the corner of the sarcophagus, just barely feeling the heat of Kal's fire wall. Shorak is well aware of the damage the magical fire can do, but is also aware of its limits.

"Aah", Shorak sighs, "There you are!" He smiles as he sees that his boomerang is still buried in the body of the wight archer. His smile hardens as he raises his hand crossbow and lets fly with a bolt. "I'm still going to want that back."

Ranged attack (1d20+7=26)

Piercing damage (1d6+4=5)

Move to the square just north of the one between Adamant and Syrdan.

Ranged attack on W5

[Darren]

Kal grins at Adamant and slaps the warforged on his plated shoulder as another attack is blocked by his bio-mechanical friend. The grin is replaced with a grunt of surprise as an arrow punches into his stomach. With a gasp, Kal reaches down and breaks the shaft in half, freeing himself up to move. "Enough," he growls as he watches the undead work their way around the flaming wall created by his will. Moving further out into the room, Kal draws the energy of the room around him. Static electricity snaps and crackles, creating dancing lights across the tomb. Pointing Skyfang at the cluster of shambling creatures, Kal unleashes a bolt of lighting that slams into their midst.

__________________
Good call on the armor, Jeff.

I'm going to need your help on the mechanics of this one. Kal wants to move to where he can target the maximum number of that cluster of undead with a Lightning Bolt without, obviously, hitting his friends. Since I don't really know how far I can move and then do that, I am not going to make the rolls, yet, since I don't know exactly who I am making the rolls against. I THINK, given the way they're clustered together and the fact that the attack is 5' wide, he SHOULD be able to hit all of them, but I might be wrong.

Also, do Kal's Bracer's of Perfect Shot apply to magical attacks, or just ranged weapons?

(I modified Kal's sheet to remove one of the 3rd level spell slots for the day. See? I'm helping! )

[Jeff]

Shorak's bolt takes the wight in the neck, puncturing her throat. Her mouth twists in rage, but seems to physically harm her little.

But when Kal moves forwarded and looses a bolt of lightning from the tip of his blade, there is a hushed thunderclap and the room lights up under its power. The electricity coils through the space between him and his foes, shooting instantly through the first zombie's torso, the archer wight's lower half standing on the sarcophagus, and one of the zombies behind her on the ground. Both of the animate corpses shake violently as their bodies blacken and cook, then crumble to the ground. The she-wight opens her mouth and screams her pain and frustration as her lower half is likewise roasted by the powerful spell. Blackened, she yet stands, her body badly damaged, her malevolence intact.

The stench of burnt rotting flesh fills the chamber quickly.

Darren, again you've just got to read the spell description. You talk of attack rolls, but none is needed with lightning bolt. This is the spell description:

A stroke of lightning forming a line 100 feet long and 5 feet wide blasts out from you in a direction you choose. Each creature in the line must make a Dexterity saving throw. A creature takes 8d6 lightning damage on a failed save and half as much damage on a successful one.

If a saving throw is called for, I'l handle that. And I just use your Spell Save DC of 14. The roll you should do (next time) is the damage roll.

Two zombies' Dexterity saving throws (1d20-2=10, 1d20-2=13) (failure, failure)
Wight #5's Dexterity saving throw (1d20+2=15) (success)
Kal's lightning bolt deals (8d6=30) lightning damage to the zombies, destroying them, and half that much (15) to the wight.

Bracer's of the Perfect Shot only applies to ranged weapon attack rolls.

5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Mike]

"That's a rather interesting tactic," Syrdan murmurs, as bolts of lightning erupt from Kalarian's blade. He spins and moves slightly closer to the zombies clambering over the sarcophagus, his own sword slashing viciously at the undead creature in front of him.

"I'll deal with the rest of the creatures down here," the elf calls in a louder tone. "Those who can, help the girl above."

________________________

Movement action: 1 Square NE, right above the zombie Syrdan attacked last round.

Standard Action: Attacking the zombie, using his Extra Attack ability.

Attack roll: (1d20+8=16, 1d20+8=22)

Damage roll: (2d6+5=11, 2d6+5=11); damage is also radiant.

[Jeff]

In two strokes of his mighty blade, Syrdan leaves the zombie before him falling to the ground in three even pieces. Each wound flashes briefly with the holy light of his blade. The corpse twitches for a moment, then all its pieces lie still. Released.

[Ken]

“There are two more on the other side of the flames,” Belarin reminds his friends. “One is mine.”

He advances several steps, feeling the comforting shadows envelop him, until he has clear sight of the archer. He then points an accusatory finger at the wight: “Idiot archer near the fire / Feel my wrath, catch my ire!” A crackling bolt of red-and-silver energy erupts from the outstretched hand.

Next, he tugs on the arcane link that connects him to Torgen, behind the wall of fire. Torgen, please take the archer’s bow and break it.

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Belarin advances forward so he can get a good look at the archer wight, invoking Shadow Walk in the process. He then attacks with eldritch blast.

Attack: 1d20 (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d10 (10) + 3 = 13 points of damage.

Next, he commands Torgen as described. If the attack destroys the archer, I’ll change the command and tell Torgen to grab hold of the other wight, Lorv.

Belarin takes 1 more point of necrotic damage, which I've adjusted on the sheet.

[Jeff]

Belarin's fey energy blasts the she-wight off the sarcophagus. Her bow smacks against the wall and clatters to the ground on the other side. Considering the force of it, he's fairly sure she's been slain, though he can't see her anymore either.

When he starts to mentally command the wight Torgen, he feels the link has faltered. The wight's fear of Streko has driven it further away, down the steps he'd previously glimpsed.

Round 5 begins!

20 - Condign
20 - NPCs (Larest, Sem, Rinti)
19 - Streko
15 - Adamant
14 - wights, zombies
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

[Brian]

Condign watches the undead archer fall. Assessing the battle, he realizes he cannot get close to the remaining zombies without Kal's fire wall scorching his body and moves to hold the space between the sarcophagus in font of him and the wall to his left. If the anything advances from that direction, he will attack with his longsword.

_________________________________________________

Movement Action: Condign moves one square northwest.

Action: He prepares the Ready an attack. Trigger: A hostile creature comes within his reach.

[Joe]

Streko feels the fury and passion behind Olladra's holy might and basks in it for just a moment. He then remembers his friends below and calls out to Tangat in the Halfling tongue.

"Tangat, alert Kal that we have more undead up here. And as much as I would like to see Larest punished for his part in bringing us to this place, I recognize that he is needed, for now. Any assistance our friends below can provide would be appreciated. Also if they need us to return there, just let me know. For now, we must protect Rinti and Sem, while assisting Larest as best we can."

He turns and heads back toward the staircase to see what is occurring there now. Seeing one of the foul creatures getting close to Larest, Streko curses, calls out Olladra's name while closing his fist and then pushing his fingers away from his palm. Olladra's holy power, a sacred and hungry flame, erupts from the Halfling's fingers and engulfs the zombie.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Streko will use Sacred Flame on the Zombie nearest Larest, or should he finish that one off, the one to Larest's left that is not on fire.

Attack=16
Damage=7

[Dave W.]

Adamant nods to Condign, approving his positioning. The warforged moves closer to the firewall to pick up any undead turning that corner. "So, Belarin, I assume you can maintain control of your friend. I assume that would not hold if we assault it. Please advise us if there is something for us to do there."

"In the meantime, is it time to be done with the wall of fire? It's done a marvelous job controlling the battle but perhaps we are in a new phase of the combat?"

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I've just realized I could go... the NPCs are all upstairs...

Movement Action: 1 square E and 2 NE. He should be next to Kal and Syrdan.
Standard Action: A ready action if I may, prepare to intercept the first attacker that comes in melee range.

Reminder: Protection fighting style will impose disadvantage on an enemy attacking one of my allies w/i 5', I think that's just Condign unless other folks move.
Reminder 2: Aura of Protection, when making those saves, if you're w/i 10' of Adamant you get a +3.

[Jeff]

Condign takes up a defensive position, ready to block the left-hand side of the room. He sees the white-hot eyes of one of the wights in the nearby sarcophagus. It's crouched in there, seemingly obeying a mental command...which Condign is fairly sure is Belarin's doing. But it's staring at Condign from its "hiding" place.

Flame-like light descends on the zombie attacking Larest, and it seems to burn away chunks of flesh and bone. Yet it persists with only half a face, its jaw working open and its fingers grasping at the nobleman. Larest makes a gesture with his wand, and the flaming sphere he conjured (which has been slowly burning away the webs and the zombies within) comes rolling out of the web, slams into his opponent, and sets it alight. The zombie rocks in place, very little of its skeleto able to support it.

Then Sem tosses a bolt of fire with a flick of his wrist. It strikes the zombie square in the torso, setting it alight. Still it burns and flails, on its feet, refusing to go down!

Joe, turns out the final PHB version of Sacred Flame is a saving throw, so it's something I roll. Which is good in this case, since zombies suck at Dex saves. In any case, I've used your damage roll.

Zombie's Dexterity saving throw vs. Sacred Flame (1d20-2=3) (falure) / 7 radiant damage
Zombie's Dexterity saving throw vs. Flaming Sphere (1d20-2=2) (failure) / fire damage (2d6=3)

Sem's Fire Bolt attack roll (1d20+7=17) (hit) / fire damage (2d10=7) to zombie

Zombie is reduced to 0 hit points. Zombie's Constitution saving throw (1d20+3=12) (undead fortitude) (success) / Zombie is instead at 1 hit point.

15 - Adamant
14 - wights, zombies
12 - Shorak
7 - Kal and Tangat
5 - Syrdan
4 - Belarin

I just realized somehow my map here shows wight #5 still up. She isn't.

[Joe]

Streko frowns. "Die already!" he mutters.

He reaches back into his handy haversack and pulls out a bundle of cloth.

"Larest, come back towards me." Streko unties the wrapped cloth and tosses it at the feet of the burning zombie.

Dozens of tiny, sharp, glass shards tinkle out as the package hits the ground. They spread across the floor directly between the zombie and Larest.

"Come to me, you burning pile of dung!" he calls out to the zombie.

_____________________________________________________________________

Streko tosses a bag of Caltrops at the zombie's feet.