Patreon LogoYour support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)

Dungeon of Bad Ends (Homebrew System)

Scarlett let out a gasp of surprise as the sound of Cassie falling clattered through the plaza, she was so focused on the patrolling creatures that she hadn't even noticed Cassie's tumble until the sound hit her ears.
"Oh!?" Under differing circumstances perhaps even the fair mannered heroine would have giggled at a rouge tripping while sneaking, certainly she would tease Cassie, but in the midst of the fallen Holy City while separated by foes: this was not the time.

As the unknown creatures pursued her fallen ally Scarlett yanked her backsword out of it's sheath and raised her cherry buckler before dashing forward to assist Cassie, her crimson curtain of hair and red, flowing miniskirt dancing behind her as she sprinted forward towards the ensuing combat. The girl made as little noise as she could during her swift approach, trying to at least level the creatures' advantage in initiative with a semblance of surprise [Reposition to main melee group].

Once the girl had arrived in a position behind the three undead her bold blue eyes widened slightly taking in the terrible sight of the three monsters between her and Cassie, before narrowing specifically onto the eldritch tentacles violating one's desecrated cunt and restricting the rogue. The detail that made the sight of these creatures truly horrifying was the obvious fact that they were victims, each killed by some terror of the corruption and mutilated into the grotesque forms they now inhabited. What Scarlett, Louella, Cassie, and Kerrish were now forced to dispatch easily could be their own fate if they failed.

Regardless of Scarlett's mixed feelings towards the undead her intentions were unchanged. She would lounge forward towards the backside of the Corpse Mother and attempt to drive her blade into it's waist, and hopefully seize some of the attention from Cassie [Valiant Cleave = 14 vs the Corpse Mother].

Action 1: Reposition
Action 2: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave

Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave -- Roll +Will to hit. Deals 1 Strength damage.
 
The ground betrayed her first. In the back of her mind, Cassie knew that if anything was going to get her, it would be the ruins themselves, the rubble strewn all over the ground…and, as it turned out, she was right. An uneven, poorly-balanced cobblestone shifted under her unexpectedly, and she tumbled to the ground in a very undignified and not-silent manner. The young rogue couldn’t prevent the grunt of discomfort from escaping her as she fell, but by that point any effort at stealth was long-gone. She scrambled to her feet, and looked around to check her situation, and was alarmed to discover that all three of the figures were shambling over to her position. She turned to flee; if it had been merely a foot race, she might have gotten away. But…

She recoiled in horror as something rough and slimy grabbed her leg, preventing her escape; it took her ankle first, then wound its way up her leg, past the heavy boot and along the skin of her expose thigh, possibly with the intent of going- She didn’t want to know; the sights of the three clearly-dead beings – rotten, decayed, misshapen, far from being in even a remotely-good condition, tentacles coming from orifices that should never deal with such things – were bad enough, never mind the smells of decay and blood and sweat and sex that assaulted her senses. And yet, somehow, a rush of arousal had shot through her as the tentacle stimulated the sensitive flesh of her exposed thigh; she felt her sex heat up slightly even as her stomach turned in revulsion.


“Hell, no!” she hissed loudly as she drew her sword. She was not-quite surrounded, but her position was far from ideal. She managed to duck the mallet swung by the male, but the crook of the older woman – if that’s what she could be called – landed in her rib cage, causing her to recoil again. She tried to shake it off, yanked her leg back sharply to try and free it from the tentacle, then swung her sword at the girl – who was possibly rather similar to Cassie before she’d died – in effort to try and get…she didn’t know what. She was vaguely aware of Red running in to assist, but would it help…? Cassie had no idea.

She’d rather die than end up like the girl that had grabbed her, but Cassie had a feeling that she might get no choice in the matter, not here.

STR (-1) -2 / AGIL (+3) +2 / WIL (+1) -1 / Purity (5) 4
Action 1: Attempt to Break Free from Corpse Mother's tentacle - Roll + Str => 20 +(-1) = success (what a waste of a damned 20!)
Action 2: Attack Corpse Mother - Roll + Agility => 4 + 2 = missed)
 
Last edited:
Louella looked toward the sound. And here she’d been worried that she would be the one to reveal them. Ah well, looks like they were going to fight anyway, she thought as she hefted her hammer and charged, letting out a battlecry in an attempt to draw some attention while she swung at the corpse mother, aiming for the head, mostly so she wouldn’t have to think of it as a former person.

First: Reposition
Second: Attack (Warhammer): Louella deals 1 strength and 1 agility damage on a hit. (19+Strength (2)=21 (Aw hell yeah))

Her blow was swift and powerful, and she couldn’t help but smirk, confidence bolstered by the truth of her strength of arm.
 
Almost as quickly as the undead had converged on Cassie, her allies rushed to her aid. All eyes were on two targets in particular--the corpse of the young woman, and the abomination that crept forth from her womb. Scarlett stabbed at the woman's waist, perhaps trying to wound the monstrosity lurking within. Kerrish followed suit, throwing what would have been an debilitating kidney punch to a living target. The tentacles writhed in apparent agony from their combined assault, giving Cassie more than enough chance to slip away from their grasp. The rogue took a swipe at the monstrous appendages, and although her blade found no purchase, she did manage to ward off their attempts to grapple her once more.

Louella, meanwhile, went straight for the head, a satisfying crack ringing through the plaza as her hammer connected with the lifeless face. The young woman's head snapped back, and stayed drooping backwards over her shoulder; a fatal blow, for one not already dead. Still, whatever force compelled her body to motion seemed to have some limits, as she slowed and staggered under the onslaught of the four heroines.

However, their focused attacks left the two remaining zombies unscathed for a counterattack. The shepherd's crook once again struck Cassie, smacking painfully across her face and leaving a sullen red mark on her fair cheek. Meanwhile, the blacksmith swung his mallet clumsily, but with brutal force--as Scarlett could attest as the iron head crashed down against her buckler. Her arm gave out under the blow, and although her shield stopped the hammer from caving her head in, it also smashed painfully against her head, leaving her reeling.

Scarlett's attack of 14 hits. Cassie's attack of 6 misses. Louella's attack of 21 hits. Kerrish's Sucker Punch attack of 23 hits. The Corpse Mother has taken 3 Strength damage and 1 Agility damage. She can only take one action on her next turn.

Kerrish gains Inspiration.

Cassie's Break Free succeeds, and she undoes 1 Agility damage. She has fully negated the Corpse Mother's grapple attack; Cassie is back to full Agility and can reposition if she likes.

Corpse Mother's Grapple attack of 2 misses. (I made a mistake on the roll; she only gets a +1 due to the damage she has taken.)

Undead Villager F's attack of 4 against Kerrish misses. Undead Villager F's attack of 15 against Cassie hits. Cassie takes 1 Strength damage.

Undead Villager M's attack of 10 against Scarlett hits. Undead Villager M's attack of 11 against Louella misses. Scarlett takes 1 Strength damage.
 
With the undead abomination’s attention off her, hopefully, Cassie felt a moment of indecision – which to focus her attack on? There was the abomination with the tentacles, certainly, but there were also the other two – the male with the hammer, and the older woman with the crook…the crook that had now struck her twice. Her cheek was still feeling the ache of the blow, and probably would for hours to come, like her ribs. She wasn’t made for this sort of fighting. It in no way helped that there was still a niggling flush of heat between her thighs. The man with the hammer it was, then – he seemed to be focussing on Red; that meant she might be able to move in behind him. It also meant that whichever of the lesser pair she attack, the other would still be free – unless her companions spread out, which would then mean the abomination would be more-free to attack them.

“Someone go after the one with the crook!”

She didn’t bother trying to sneakily position herself this time as she yelled out her suggestion. She darted around as best she could to get in behind the man, then swung her sword quickly and sharply towards the flank of his unguarded flank…

STR (-1) -3 / AGIL +3 / WIL (+1) -1 / Purity (5) 4
Reposition to rear of male undead
Action 1: basic attack - Roll + Agility => 7 + 3 = 10 (probably going to miss)
Action 2: basic attack - Roll + Agility => 8 + 3 = 11 (probably going to miss)
 
Louella grunts her understanding, ignoring the battered undead she and her companions had brutalized, and swinging down at the shepherd’s shoulder with a loud grunt of effort, then lifting her hammer with a quick pivot of her hips and lashing out at the corpse mother once more.
First action: Attack (M zombie)
5 (3+Strength)
Second Action: Attack (corpse mother)
20 (18+Strength)

Her first swing went wide, she saw, but once more, her hammer swept through the air and into the corpse mother as surely as a blacksmith pounds up iron, bringing a smile to redhead’s face. Louella briefly wondered why she hadn’t been attacked at all, but her concerns were pushed away by the satisfying CRUNCH when her hammer struck home against the corpse mother’s abdomen.
 
A grin grew on Scarlett's sweet lips as she witnessed Kerrish's, Louella's, and her own blow find purchase in the rotting flesh of the Corpse Mother before her: giving Cassie a quick reprieve and allowing her to escape the vile grasp of the undead's nether tentacles, even if she could not escape the assaulting Shepard's crook from another undead. Sadly the girl didn't have time to celebrate her small victory as her vision was suddenly shadowed by a large mallet walloping towards her head. She was confident that she could block this reckless strike under normal circumstances; however, as it connected against her cherry buckler the force re-inflamed her wounded left shoulder from being pounced on and mounted earlier and her shoulder gave way resulting in her shield slamming down against her skull harshly.

The blow sent the girl stumbling backwards as a bead of blood from the impact rushed down her milky-white countenance, past her freckled cheek, and dripped off her chin before disappearing into her blouse. Scarlett bit her lips in a gesture that was as much pained as it was simply annoyed that her strength had failed her, but luckily she had reduced what could have been a fatal blow to what likely wouldn't even result in a concussion.

With Scarlett forced a step or two out of immediate combat her wide eyes narrowed onto her companions: she looked them over but each of them seemed properly inspired to the point that her efforts would go wasted, even the silent Dwarf had a spark in her eyes. Seeing the rogue take a place behind the male undead that just whacked the girl, and Louella taking a place between the female undead and the Corpse Mother, Scarlett gripped her blade and dashed opposite Louella, striking at the Corpse Mother and the female undead from behind[Valiant Cleave = 16 vs the Corpse Mother][Valiant Cleave = 6 vs the F Undead].

Action 1: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave
Action 2: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave

Strength: -1/+1

Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave -- Roll +Will to hit. Deals 1 Strength damage.
 
The undead made little move to defend themselves, but it didn't seem to matter. Blades sank into unfeeling flesh, fists and and hammers battered against already broken bodies. Only the most brutal strikes seemed to even slow the animated corpses down. Nonetheless, the heroines' initial onslaught against the tentacle-bearer seemed to be wearing her down. Her swollen stomach crumpled under the head of Louella's hammer, causing the tentacles to writhe wildly. One slapped feebly against the berserker, leaving a smear of slime across her cheek and neck but otherwise doing no harm. Scarlett swept in to sever the head that Louella had already nearly dislodged; with that, the woman and her abhorrent offspring fell to the ground, unmoving.

The other two zombies were not deterred, by either the fall of their ally or the heavy blow that Kerrish managed to land against the woman. The zombie attempted to retaliate against the dwarf, but Kerrish easily ducked under the sweep of her crook. Scarlett, however, was not so lucky, taking a painful blow to her gut. Meanwhile, as Cassie stabbed fruitlessly into the dead man's side, he brought his hammer down on her suddenly. It was all the rogue could do to move her head out of the mallet's path, taking the blow to her shoulder instead. A sickening crack filled the air as her clavicle snapped, and she was nearly driven to her knees by the force of the hit. Then he spun around to swing at Louella; even the glancing blow he landed across her temple drew blood and left her head ringing.

Cassie's attacks of 10 and 11 both miss the Undead Villager (M).
Louella's attack of 5 misses the Undead Villager (M). Her attack of 20 hits the Corpse Mother.
Cassie's attack of 16 hits the Corpse Mother. Her attack of 6 misses the Undead Villager (F).
Kerrish's attack of 4 misses the Undead Villager (M). Her attack of 16 hits the Undead Villager (F).
The Corpse Mother has taken 5 Strength damage and 2 Agility damage, and is defeated.
Undead Villager (F) has taken 1 Strength damage.
Undead Villager (M) has taken no damage.

Undead Villager (F)'s attack of 16 hits Scarlett. Her attack of 8 misses Kerrish.
Undead Villager (M)'s attack of 13 hits Louella. His attack of 22 hits Cassie. The Undead Villager (M) now has inspiration.

Scarlett takes 1 Strength damage. Louella takes 1 Strength damage, plus 1 Purity damage due to her Masochist weakness. Cassie takes 1 Strength damage.

Both of Louella's rage abilities are triggered.
 
Louella snarls at the Blow, seemingly undeterred as she swung twice at the undead that had struck her. She saw it not as a wound to her body, though she would surely need rest to mend, but a strike at her pride.
First Action: Attack Male Zombie.
Roll: 17 +1(Strength)=18
Effect on Hit: 2 Strength damage, 1 agility damage

Second Action: Attack Male Zombie
Roll: 1+1= 2
Reroll from inspiration: 11 +1= 12
Effect on hit: 1 Strength damage, 1 agility damage
Her first blow ‘twas mighty indeed, and would have reduced a lesser foe’s head to a splatter of gore and bone, but for these creatures of death, it likely merely staggered it. Louella then swung again, the hammer nearly slipping from her grasp, before glancing at Scarlett, and the rest of her team. She wouldn’t ALLOW herself to fail them in this time of need, and she gripped the handle of her hammer with a white-knuckle grip that kept it in her grasp, and her own injuries only seemed to add a spiteful fervor to her fighting.
 
There was no hiding the cry of pain as Cassie felt her collarbone snap under the force of the mallet; the rogue staggered back, her now-useless left arm hanging by her side as she had to force herself to summon the will and energy to keep struggling. Maybe Chain Man was right: she, like the others, would meet a grisly and very-unwelcome end in these ruins…they would not find what they were looking for, nor would they even get close to the center of the ruins to be able to attempt to stop the Corruption.

She grit her teeth as she shuffled to once more stand behind the undead male and swung her sword at his back as best she could; the first swing looked to be sliding past his back as the man moved but she was able to flick her wrist and instead send the blade striking true; her second swing also bit deeply, this time without the need for any mid-swing correction…

She just didn’t know if it would be enough. She knew within herself that if the fight didn’t end soon, she’d be in serious trouble.

STR (-1) -4 / AGIL +3 / WIL (+1) -1 / Purity (5) 4
Reposition behind male undead.
Action 1: Attack male undead - Roll + Agility -> 5 + 3 = miss
Spend Inspiration to re-roll Action 1: Attack male undead - Roll + Agility -> 16 + 3 => hit, deals 1 STR damage
Action 2: Attack male undead - Roll + Agility -> 19 + 3 => hit, deals 1 STR damage
 
Scarlett's thick blade tore through the Corpse Mother's neck like an axe as she strode past it in one swift movement, her grace juxtaposed to the brutishness of her backsword as it sundered gore leaving behind chunks of a redead corpse. The girl's momentum was cut short when she attempted to extend her attack to the last remaining female undead, catching a crook in the gut and forcing her to stop in her tracks; however, even as Scarlett gasped and bowed in pain, caught off guard by the blow, she still heard the severe cracking of bone. The girl managed to glance over in time to witness Cassie thrown to her knees from a mighty blow by the hand of the male undead. The rogue was down and nearly out. The girl's bold blue eyes stared over the scene as time seemed to slow. Scarlett had lost allies in combat against the corruption before, but she was not jaded. If anything every life that was lost beside her only made the next that much more ruinous.

Fortunately as the Rogue clambered back up and struck at the undead that nearly did her in--opposite of the raging Louella--the girl was filled with a temporary relief and she focused her attention on the female undead who dealt Scarlett her own most recent blow. With a bold cry she charged shield first at the undead, attempting to bash her buckler against it's head before following up with a stab at the monstrous victim's chest[Valiant Cleave = 11 vs Female Undead][Valiant Cleave = 1 vs Female Undead].

Action 1: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave
Action 2: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave

Strength: -2/+1

Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave -- Roll +Will to hit. Deals 1 Strength damage.
 
Despite their injuries, Cassie and Louella rallied admirably against the hammer-wielding zombie. Louella lashed out with devestating fury, while Cassie struck with a fierce desperation. Scarlett, confident that her allies could handle the man, focused on the woman. Her attacks seemed to do little to the corpse, though; she couldn't even seem hold its interest. The undead shepherd had turned her attention back to the battered rogue. It raised its crook high, preparing to strike what may well have been the last blow Cassie could endure.

Before the zombie could bring its weapon down, Kerrish tackled it with a loud cry, wrapping her arms around its midsection and driving it away from the group. The zombie made a few attempts to beat the dwarf off with her crook, but between the awkward angle and Kerrish's hardiness, it didn't seem to have much of an effect. Soon it dropped the tool and grabbed at Kerrish, attempting to gain control of the situation that way. Its success was mixed; it was hard to tell who was in control of the grapple from moment to moment, but either way the two struggled their way towards the largest building until they disappeared through its archway.

Although the other heroines may have thought to pursue their friend, any attempts at assistance were waylaid by the remaining zombie, who swung its hammer in wild, erratic sweeps. Its strength seemed to be fading, but it was still dangerous, landing a painful blow to Louella's ribcage. It wasn't safe for them to take their attention off of the frenzied corpse, not until they could put it down for good.

Louella's attacks of 18 and 12 both hit the Undead Villager (M).
Cassie's attacks of 19 and 22 both hit the Undead Villager (M).
Scarlett's attack of 11 hits the Undead Villager (F). Her attack of 1 misses.

--For Kerrish's turn, I'm going to go ahead and remove her from the narrative now.--

Undead Villager (M) has taken 5 Strength damage and 2 Agility damage.
Kerrish and Undead Villager (F) are both removed from combat.

Undead Villager (M) uses inpsiration on its first attack. Its attack of 12 hits Louella. Its attack of 0 does not.

Louella takes 1 Strength damage, plus 1 Purity damage due to her Masochist weakness. Both of Louella's rage abilities are triggered.
Currently no one has inspiration.
 
Louella laughs, the blow, while painful, only made her more determined to pulp this zombie so she could rescue her comerade. She drew back her hammer, blood trickling down her cheek from the headblow as she drew a breath and roared, swinging for the fences. Her first blow nearly went wide, but she used the momentum from her reckless swing to drive her hammer home harder than it would have struck previously. Then she shifted her grip and swung down, like an executioner at the block. Her blow came down powerfully, muscular arms driving it towards the floor without any care for the zombie in the way.
Current Stats: Strength 0, Agility 2, Will 0, Purity -2
Action 1: Attack (Male Zombie)
Roll: 5 17
Effect on hit: 2 STR damage, 1 AGI damage
Action 2: Attack (Male Zombie)
Roll: 18
Effect on hit: 1 STR damage, 1 AGI damage
 
Scarlett's strikes towards the Female Undead became desperate as the girl realized that it's sights were set on the Rogue on death's door: as if the undead were trying to strike down Cassie as much as Scarlett was trying to save her. Scarlett's blade bit into the rotten flesh before her but seemed to have about as much affect as stabbing an actual inanimate corpse. Luckily just before the undead brought it's crook down like a scythe to reap the rogue's last vitality, out of nowhere the Dwarf tackled it backwards.

The girl watched wide eyed as the prisoner threw herself into harms way to save Cassie and managed to wrestle a zombie twice her size away from the group. Despite the odd humor of the event Scarlett immediately swapped her attention to the last undead, charging forward and sending a flurry of cleaves at him just as Louella struck at him [Valiant Cleave = 17 vs Male Undead][Valiant Cleave = 14 vs Male Undead].

Action 1: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave
Action 2: Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave

Basic Attack: Valiant Cleave -- Roll +Will to hit. Deals 1 Strength damage.
 
The haze of pain was slowly getting worse for the young rogue. It was getting harder to swing her sword…but she needed to. It was getting harder to move around, to find that right spot…but she needed to. Her feet kept her moving when her left shoulder was clamouring for her to stop…because she needed to. She was vaguely aware of Kerrish – the silent, unwilling participant in their venture – grappling the undead that wielded the shepherd’s crook, wrestling with a being almost twice her height but of similar mass, and the pair of them disappearing through a not-too-distant doorway, but she couldn’t give chase. She was in no condition to give chase. She’d be hard-pressed to continue at all…but she needed to.

There was only one opponent left, now, only one they were not actively fighting – the one with the tentacles was down and not moving, the one with the crook had gone and taken Kerrish with her…that left just the one with the hammer. Her feet shuffled slightly, light footwork gradually turning into heavy treads, and moved her to behind the male once more. Cassie knew she’d have to hit well and true if she was going to aid her companions in bringing this one down. Her sword arm struck out, hard, twice, the rogue wincing and grimacing as the actions set her left arm flailing and shooting pain through her torso…

The first attack went wide of its mark, not even getting close, possibly due to Cassie’s mind being partly-numbed by pain. The second swing struck true, at least…

STR (-1) -4 / AGIL +3 / WIL (+1) -1 / Purity (5) 4
Reposition behind Undead(M)
Action1: attack Undead(M) - Roll + Agility => 1 + 3 = Miss
Action2: attack Undead(M) - Roll + Agility => 15 + 3 = hit, deals 1 STR damage
 
With their efforts focused on a single target, the heroines made short work of the last zombie. With as much damage as they had already inflicted on it, the forces holding it together seemed to be wearing thin, and every strike against its rotting flesh seemed to stagger it.

At the same time, some truly impressive crashing sounds were echoing from the giant building ahead. However, by the time the zombie's broken body lay truly lifeless at the heroines' feet, the noise had subsided. They could only hear their own labored breaths, and their hearts pounding in their ears.

Louella's attacks of 17 and 18 both hit the Undead Villager (M).

Scarlett's attacks of 17 and 15 both hit the Undead Villager (M).

Cassie's attacks of 4 and 18 both hit the Undead Villager (M).

Undead Villager (M) has taken 12 Strength damage and 4 Agility damage and is defeated. Combat is over.

You can take non-combat actions now, chat and roleplay if you like; or if everyone wants to go after Kerrish you can move on to the next scene.
Currently no one has inspiration.
 
Louella went about finishing off the creatures, then picked up the zombie’s hammer, closing her eyes and trying to get a ‘feel’ for it. She was a little red around the ears, and while she was a bit unsteady, it wasn’t entirely from her wounds. Seems she had a love of battle that she hadn’t told the others about. “We have to save Kerrish, but we need to be well equipped when we go after her. Check the corpse mother for anything useful.”
 
Before the final undead had even hit the ground from it's wound's Scarlett swooped over to the heavily injured rogue, with her blade still out: sloppily cleaning and sheathing it as she moved. The girl kindly tried to support Cassie, attempting to take the woman into her delicate grasp and help her to a comfortable position. All the while Scarlett's bold blue eyes would stare directly into the rogue's, avoiding the wound as if it didn't even exist. A warm smile would grow on her sweet lips as she tried to comfort Cassie, although she had no clue how devastating of a wound the rogue had actually received. All Scarlett knew was that thinking back on the sickening crack of her allies bone sent shivers up and down the girl's spine, despite this she spoke in a surprisingly soothing voice [Inspiring Beauty],
"Don't worry. You are going to be fine! I have seen others live from worse than this..."

Scarlett paid little attention to Louella, she was far more concerned with aiding the living than celebrating and looting the slayed; however, she did finally glance away from Cassie towards the entrance that Kerrish disappeared through with a hint of worry on her countenance.

Special Action: Inspiring Beauty -- Give an ally inspiration. You may use this in or out of combat, but in combat you may only use it once per turn. You may only use Inspiring Beauty twice per scene and not while Easily Embarrassed.
 
As the last of the undead fell, Cassie took a couple of unsteady steps backwards. She found herself being supported by Red, which was just as well – without that support, Cassie likely would have leaned against a building then slid to the ground. She was feeling faint from the pain in her shoulder, and she wouldn’t have been in any way surprised to discover that her face had gone pale as well. She had the presence of mind to slide her sword into its sheath before she met Red’s gaze – she was having a hard time feeling the inspiration she knew the other woman was trying to impart. She needed rest, she needed healing…she wasn’t going to get either of those things here.

“My shoulder…broken,” she explained quietly, her gaze flicking to her left to highlight which one, although that was probably obvious from the way she was holding herself. Her speech was broken, a combination of pain and hyperventilation to try and endure the pain. “At the least…it needs bandaging, strapping. Need to secure…my arm to reduce pain.” She offered a small, weak smile. “I don’t know how much…longer I’ll be with you. I’m not very…useful…with only one arm. I can scout ahead still, but…locks, traps…harder for me.”

She looked towards the large building where Kerrish and the female undead had stumbled. Cassie knew that the chances of finding Kerrish alive probably weren’t very good. “You two go on …look for Kerrish. I’ll stay here…search the corpses. Maybe I’ll scout ahead…see if I can find a…a way forward.”
 
“Oh no. Not happening. You look like a stiff breeze would be the end of you.” Louella said to Cassie. “Why don’t you try and work on the door by the entrance and see if you can’t figure out some way to get it open? Something tells me we’re going to need a healer, and we forgot to bring one.” The redhead came off as a bit emotionally distant, but that was how she dealt with the stress of combat: focusing on surviving, and trying to make sure most of the party survived as well. “Rest up. We’ll get Kerrish. And hopefully we’ll have two patients for the healer instead of just one.”
 
Scarlett took noticeable, deliberate breaths through her cute nose and out her mouth, as if trying to calm the rogue by example. As Cassie spoke the girl listened devotedly and attempted to maintain eye contact to give the rogue something to focus on aside from the pain. As Louella spoke Scarlett nodded in complete agreeance before adding, in a continued soothing tone,
"Lou is right! We will find someone that can aid you, don't give up hope!"
 
The corpses carried little of use or value. The crook and the hammer were laborers' tools, never intended to be used as weapons--although they were serviceable if nothing else were at hand. There may have been a blacksmith or shepherd in Silvergate who would make good use of them, or perhaps they might serve as mementos of the fallen, but each of the heroines already carried a deadlier weapon than such peasants' tools. On closer inspection, the young woman also possessed one item of some worth: a ring on her middle finger, a wedding band, so tarnished it was hard to tell what metal it was made of, though anything more precious than copper seemed unlikely. Although most of her decaying flesh was sickly and pale, the part of her hand around the ring was blackened with necrosis, and the corruption that had seeped into the metal was palpable at a touch.
 
Last edited:
Louella tore off a shred of fabric and worked the ring off of the rotted flesh, holding it up to the light. “And what’s this?” Might this be the reason of these animated corpses? Or was it something even more sinister?
 
Cassie looked first to Louella, then to Red, as each girl gave their opinion. The rogue knew they were right: she couldn’t scout ahead, not the way she was. But if she didn’t, she’d never get the chance to find out what was ahead, to see what lay in wait for them. Maybe, though, their best path was now in attempting to retreat – maybe trying to figure out how to get those doors opened. But hadn’t the inner door been closed when they entered that first room? Hadn’t the inner door only opened when the outer door was closed? Maybe the trick lay there – closing the inner door released the outer door. It was something to ponder, at least, and might help take her mind off things.

“I don’t think I’d be taking any items for loot, Louella,” Cassie cautioned in a weary voice. “Anything that’s been in contact with corrupted beings for so long is likely to be tainted with corruption itself…and may then, in turn, start corrupting those who take them. The keys, for example.” She looked up, met Red’s gaze. Her own eyes held a slightly-haunted look as she gazed at the warrior.

“I’ll head back to that first room, then,” she agreed slowly. “See if I can work out how to get that outer door open so we can get out of here. You two see if you can find Kerrish…although I think she…” She paused, then sighed. She didn’t think Kerrish was with them any longer, at least not in a way that they could save.
 
Scarlett nodded at Cassie's appraisal of the potentially cursed item but didn't take any steps to stop Louella from examining it.
"Just be careful with it..." The girl added. With the panic of the rogue's wound subsided Scarlett parted herself from the women and did as she said, making her way curiously towards the doorway that Kerrish disappeared through. As she walked her hand fingered through the front of her skirt, just above her crotch, and pulled out Kerrish’s Control Rune: the object that had been granted to her in order to make sure that their prisoner stayed loyal. She glanced down at the object, ignorant as to how it worked or what exactly it did, but looking for any signs within the runes of Kerrish's fate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom