Rysen wields a keen-edged longsword.

Merek wields Torean Nightsong.

The sun has begun to set, the shadows lengthening against the autumn grass. As the sun slips below the horizon a sense of quiet descends on the village. There is not a single sound, even the breathing of the party seems muted somehow. The fog that had lingered at the periphery of the village starts to roll in, thick and dewy, carpeting the ground in murky white. The well has been covered, a large rock placed over it to keep it shut. There are plenty of vacant houses, the doors and windows open like hollow eyes, just waiting for occupants. There is also the choice to fall back and camp outside of the dead village. Rysen and Rukhnis have their drawing of the painting they discovered in the barn, and someone has hold of the half-scroll discovered in a hidden passage in the Communal Hall. There is still enough light to see without torches, true night still an hour or more away.

Rukhnis is standing near the western end of the village, studying the human tracks that appear to lead out from there into the surrounding countryside. She glances over her shoulder at Rysen, marking his position, then makes a questioning gesture at the tracks. "Should we see where they go, or is there perhaps not enough time?"

Olivia looks around the Village as the fog starts rolling in. "I think we should board ourselves up in a house for the night. See if anything comes back here tonight. We have clearly had more visitors since last time we where here." She says to the group in general. She had stashed the scroll in her medical satchel when the others brought it out. Just in case.

Kaya is near the group silently standing guard and keeping watch

Merek is atop his horse as he rides to meet with the others, his cloak billowing about him with hood up. The others can see as he makes his way, then he slows at that approach. He steps from the horse, black leathers beneath the cloak seem to keep him looking like some rogue. He walks to where Rysen and Rukhnis are at, and looks to them, then he holds up a hand. Mystery revealed as the Seer draws back his hood, "Marquessa Keaton has asked me to come check in on you all, she is worried," he says with a husky drawl also.

Rysen glances at Olivia frowning, and then turns to Rukhnis. "We probably shouldn't take any unnecessary risks - but lets follow the tracks far enough to sense their general direction at least. We can follow them for about twenty minutes, and then double back, or meet the group at the old camp grounds we used before."

Olivia makes a face, "That camp is too far away. We should observe this place at night now that we have burned all the corpses we have found... We would be mistaken to give up this opprotunity..."

Rukhnis had been observing Merek very warily during his approach, but on seeing him draw back his hood and reveal himself, she observes him with only the usual amount of wariness instead. "Sir Merek," she greets the newcomer with a bow, before turning her attention back to the tracks. "Very well," she says to Rysen. "But then that begs the question of where everyone is wishing to spend the night." She casts an guarded look at the encroaching fog, grimacing faintly, then gives a resigned shrug in Olivia's direction, seeming accepting of this as anything else.

Kaya scans the area silently, keeping a protective watch over the group as they try to decide what to do

"I don't think we've burned them all," says Rysen to Olivia. "It seems risky to me, but if you're intent on staying, I'm not leaving you here. Find a place you'd like to secure - but please leave a way for me and Rukhnis to get back in when we return," he says with a grin. He gives Merek a quick salute. "Good to see you, Sir Merek. We can definitely use your help."

Merek looks between those there, to assure all are doing well, then he nods a bit. He hasn't been around enough to know too much about the layout of the place. He contents placing a hand upon the hilt of Nightsong so he can incline respectfully to others, while he looks to the fog. He nods a bit to Rysen, Eurusi scarf adjusted about his lower face, "Well, if we need to set up camp, I will work on something for you all while you decide," he says, unpacking supplies from the horse.

Olivia has rolled a critical success!
Olivia checked intellect + war at difficulty 15, rolling 40 higher.

Aethan makes his way over from wherever it was they were before -- somewhere, clearly. He nods to his companions once he gets close enough, but keeps quiet for now, not offering his thoughts on what they should do for now -- apparently he's going to go with whatever they decide.

Rukhnis proceeds a little further in the direction that the tracks seem to go in, eyes intent as she studies the ground for any additional bit of information. She doesn't go so far that she's in danger of leaving Rysen behind, just enough to get a feel for whatever message the subtle signs may have to convey. A frown of concentration creases her brow.

Rysen takes a step towards Olivia and says in a low voice. "If we stay, I'm less concerned about the risen dead than whatever caused them to rise in the first place. The scroll, the painting... staying would put us right in the middle of a place whoever made those things is definitely familiar with." His grey eyes remain on Olivia for a moment, then he turns and makes his way to Rukhnis's side. Turning back, he calls out, "We'll be back in a few minutes."

Olivia points at a two story house, "We are gonna barricade that one. We have multiple ways to get out if we need to. And the stairs should be easy to defend right?" She looks to the fighter types amongst the group. She doesn't wait however she heads over to the house. She calls out to Rysen behind her, "The Password is 'Butts' so we don't shoot you when you come back.

Rukhnis checked perception + survival at difficulty 10, rolling 35 higher.

Rysen checked perception + survival at difficulty 10, rolling 13 higher.

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Rysen grins at Olivia and shakes his head. "Butts," he says laughing. "Gods and spirits."

Kaya follows Olivia insintively, keeping a protecrive watch over the lady

As Rysen and Rukhnis make their way down the path, the light continues to fade and mist thickens. Rysen turns to Rukhnis and says. "That looks like another clearing, but we should get back..." he says uncertainly.

Olivia checked intellect + war at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Kaya checked intellect + war at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Rukhnis peers narrowly through the gathering dimness of the evening at the area of greyness ahead. She moves softly forward towards it, then pauses, once again casting a glance back over her shoulder at Rysen. "It is only a few minutes more," she says. "And perhaps there is something there which it is better to know about before full darkness falls and we are all shut up in a cursed village together for the night."

Aethan checked intellect + war at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Rukhnis checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 29 higher.

Rysen nods to Rukhnis. "Let's pick our pace then. We'll move to the clearing, and then immediately back. If we don't make it back in time, we put them all at risk, not to mention ourselves," he says with a wry grin.

Rysen checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 15 higher.

Kaya keeps close to Olivia, helping to set up the house as a proper shelter/hideout for the group

Olivia starts looking around to barricade themselves in to the house. "I say we close up as much as we can down here and then we head upstairs. We can watch the village from a window and we can defend the stairs if it gets bad." She has a whole lot of ideas, but definitely needs help with the task.

Between Olivia and Aethan, barricades are devised using various bits of handmade furniture. Olivia might try to put a chair against the door, but Aethan is able to adjust it so that it actually wedges in, creating a functional stop. Bookshelves and cases are put against the windows. Some lacking shutters, so the bookcases provide some resistance.

Aethan seems to be staying with Olivia and Kaya, and when they begin to build the barricade, he does so, as well. The way he does may make it clear that he's done something similar before. He looks at the stairs, then up, tipping his head, before he nods. "That seems defensible," he says as he moves the chair a little bit.

Merek moves to a place he can pick up a sword he finds, then he looks around a bit, while he notes to the others, "I'll keep first watch, if that's alright. There is something that I need to do," he motions with the index fingers while he sets up some work area.

"You just tell me what you need for me to do. I am just here in case things get ugly," Kaya says as she continues to help Olivia and Aethan

Olivia heads upstairs after they finish what they can do downstairs. Finding herself a window to watch from. She nods to Merek, "I will join you. I don't really sleep anyways." She keeps an eye out the window for visitors and the return of their friends.

Rukhnis nods soberly to Rysen, then proceeds with light and careful tread towards the clearing, head slightly canted to listen, eyes flicking here and there for any sign of danger. "There does not appear to be anyone there," Rukhnis observes, voice pitched hardly above a whisper nevertheless.

"There doesn't appear to be anything here... just... silence and fog. We can look around more in the morning. Let's get back." Rysen puts his hand on Rukhnis's shoulder and begins to turn back toward the village.

Kaya she takes a protective position near Olivia and the window. Kaya seems ready to keep awake as well

Merek checked dexterity + smithing at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

In the silence of th village, Merek's work seems extraordinarily loud. The metal sizzles, the flames hiss and the pounding ring of the hammer seems to echo despite the muffling properties of the fog.

Rukhnis flinches slightly at Rysen's unexpected touch, then lets out a quiet sigh. She stares very hard at the seemingly empty clearing for a moment longer, then reluctantly turns to follow Rysen back to the village.

Aethan checked perception + survival at difficulty 50, rolling 40 lower.

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 50, rolling 30 lower.

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 7 lower.

Olivia checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

Rysen grits his teeth, and keeps Rukhnis close to him as they move as quickly as possible back towards the village.

In the village, the sound of Merek's hammer continues to dominate attention. It seems almost to be getting louder, more stridant. There is a growing sense of disquiet that seems to come from no particular direction.

Aethan continues to barricade the bottom floor, though he starts to work a little slower as the feeling creeps up on him. It's difficult to pinpoint -- a very slight hesitation in his movements where before there was none, and a look around here or there for no obvious reason.

Rukhnis looks around with a heightened version of her usual vigilance as she and Rysen make their way back through the trees, looking distinctly uneasy in both her expression and the set of her shoulders. Hearing the sudden ringing sound reverberating through the fog, her head jerks up sharply, and she makes a quiet hissing noise through her teeth. She picks up her pace then, but doesn't go so far as to break into a run that might lead her headlong into catastrophe.

Olivia tries to watch out the window bit she is distracted by the hammering... "Could you be any louder... Should we get a flag for the roof that says 'Fresh Flesh here'?"

Kaya is standing guard and keeping watch but does not see anything

Merek works thorough the night, while he frowns a bit to the fog, looking to find where Olivia is, then he shifts the creation around, as he works. He rubs at his beard beneath his scarf, while his goggles are adjusted to them with his gloves working the metal. He looks then to Olivia again, and slows up so it makes less noise, as he allows. The main part is finished, now is shaping, a lot quieter.

Olivia opens the window she is at and climbs out on to the roof under her. Looking for a better vantage point or something.

"Careful," Kaya calls after Olivia and offers her arm to keep hold on the Lady as she climbs out onto the roof

Just as the wooded path that Rysen and Rukhnis are following opens up into the village clearing, another sound, all but drowned out by Merek's working can be heard. A gap in the rhythm allows it to shine -- the rustle of leaves and the snap of a twig under foot. They are coming out of the trees all around the village -- bodies, clearly no longer living, and yet walking all the same. Their eyes are clouded over, their gaits uneven, unnatural. They come in twos and threes, a few solo. From their clothing and tattoos it would seem they are not all from this village. And yet they are drawn here all the same.

"Fuck," hisses Rysen, "They're coming!!" shouts Rysen as he pushes Rukhnis ahead of him, and dashes towards the two story house that Olivia had first pointed to, as they were setting out.

Olivia yells down to Merek, "Merek get up here NOW! We have company!"

Kaya quietly keeps her position, offering support and rescue if needed for Olivia

Rukhnis stumbles as Rysen gives her a push but manages to not quite fall on her face in the dirt, and makes it over to the building at breathtaking speed. She thumps sharply at the door with the heel of her palm, exclaiming "buts!" Or at least that's how she was thinking of it. She's all about buts, as well as ifs, ands, and especially "no"s.

Merek moves back a bit from the work, at this point he draws up the Nightsong while he twirls the weapon. As the two make for the building the others are in, it means that the walkers will know where they are exactly. As such, he makes his way to the house to walk into it, and settle in the main room on the floor level.

Olivia hears the password and yells in to the house "Aethan let them in!" She is still on the little roof watching the incoming army of the dead, hoping to direct Merek in doors as well, no need to open the door twice.

Merek checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 2 lower.

Kaya checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 34 higher.

Rysen checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 31 higher.

Rukhnis checked strength + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Rukhnis checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Olivia checked strength + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 7 lower.

Kaya has rolled a critical success!
Kaya checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 46 higher.

Kaya checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 17 higher.

Merek checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 1 higher.

Rysen checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 2 higher.

Rukhnis checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 5 higher.

Olivia checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 15 higher.

Kaya checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Rysen races to the door and stops at the threshold as he hears Olivia's voice calling for Merek. "Merek!!" shouts Rysen. "Hurry!!" When Olivia and Kaya get Merek and Rukhnis to the second floor, Rysen rushes up as well, and draws his longsword. He glances at Olivia, and then turns to see how close the walking dead are to their position.

As Kaya pulls Merek up onto the overhang, the wood gives a groaning creak, shifting a little as if settling into stability... or preparing to collapse under the collected weight. The dead below are gathering, starting to congregate on the house, arms reaching, grabbing at shadows.

When he hears someone call down, Aethan reacts quickly, moving aside anything necessary to allow those outside to get inside, though not enough to make the barrier ineffective against things they do not want inside.

Kaya quickly pulls Merek and Rukhnis just in time

Merek manages to not get by the barricade, instead he works to try and get over it, then he sees Rukhnis and motions for her, "Get in," he says, then he speaks to the others, "No time to explain," he says as Kaya pulls him up after it's assured all others are up, "But... This village, it's a quiet village," does the Lion Sleep Tonight? "Frustration, this place, it wasn't utilized, it wasn't used, abandonment, something akin to that is... An unease that has settled upon them." Wait, he just arrived, how does he know anything?

Olivia makes her way quickly back in to the to the house off the roof. She dusts off a little. "Well... This should be fun..."

Rukhnis scrambles up to the overhang and through the window with something less than her usual grace, giving a somewhat breathless grunt of thanks to Kaya for her assistance. She backs up to the window and looks down on the scene of shambling undead everywhere, a little wide-eyed. She mutters, "Where have they all come from?"

From the first floor the sounds of shuffling, hands striking at the walls, the baricaded bookcases, the door. Because of Aethan's efforts, they seem like they aren't getting in soon.

Kaya settles back into a protective quiet guarding position, keeping watch over the group. She is just here if something needs to be killed because that is what she is good at

Reigna GM Roll checked strength(5) at difficulty 35, rolling 8 lower.

Rysen's eyes scan the area, seeing if he can notice anything that stands out among the gathering corpses. "Our best bet may be to wait until morning - assuming the barricades hold up. If they don't, try and behead the corpses, or escape to the south."

Rysen checked perception + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

"Would an arrow to the brain work," Kaya asks mildly, looking at her bow

"Worth a try," says Rysen to Kaya with a grin. "Just don't let them get too close."

Kaya has rolled a critical success!
Kaya checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 53 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 33 higher.

Olivia looks around to the group. "This looks like way more corpses than last time... Where are they all coming from..."

Rukhnis gives a very slight shudder, and she lifts her gaze above the walking dead themselves to observe the rest of the village, including the approach from the west. "It is a great many more," Rukhnis agrees grimly with Olivia, eyes still fixed on the horizon. "They appear to have come from many different places, and to be drawn here."

Kaya moves herself silently to the window, taking aim at the walking dead that draw near the building the group is barracaded into. She carefully aims for the heads of her targets and starts her defensive attack

Merek does what he does best, as he stands up and holds his sword behind his back with his gloved palms, while he calls to the undead, husky drawl speaking, "Listen, I don't know what has brought you all here, but we're going to try and free you from this, please just give us time to work!" he exclaims.

"Gods damn it," says Rysen. He calls over Olivia and Rukhnis and says "Look," he says, resting his long sword against his shoulder and pointing with his left hand. "Those four look like they're from this village," he moves his arm slightly, "and that was the looter Harlex set free. The rest," says Rysen frowning, "appear to be abandoned."

Aethan doesn't speak, but he does ready his axe just in case his barricade doesn't hold as well as he hoped. Luckily it seems to be for the time being -- thanks to all those forts he built around Ian as a child. Or something.

Merek checked charm + diplomacy at difficulty 50, rolling 22 lower.

her arrow hits it's mark entering the eye socket and burrowing deep. The creature slumps slightly but is still up. "May need a few arrows or fire arrows," she suggests

Rukhnis nods slightly to Rysen, frowning absently. "Which looter?" she asks him. "The man or the woman?"

The zombies, shockingly, do not appear swayed by Merek's words. Instead they continue their assault on the first floor of the house.

Reigna GM Roll checked strength(5) at difficulty 25, rolling 11 higher.

Olivia heads over to the stairs and looks down them, "Aethan dear... do you mind joining us upstairs? I rather don't like you being downstairs alone."

Rysen turns to Rukhnis and says, "It may be dangerous, but it might be time for you to take a look at that scroll and see if there's anything you can find out that might be of use. We might be here surrounded by such lovely company all night." Rysen takes a step towards Olivia and says quietly, "I spoke with Reigna and Sister Sophie recently about the risen dead. In each case, it was linked to souls being taken from the Queen of Endings - and you noticed that the spiders have left. I know you have a deep connection to the gods, and, in some cases, offerings made to the Queen were instrumental in returning things to their natural cycle. If you think you might be able to pray for guidance, now might be the time; as you said, you can't sleep anyway," he says with wry grin.

Rukhnis lets out a sharp breath. "Well," she says. "We have discovered that the dead are being drawn here from all around. And that something is killing the people who were once living, since that looter was alive and uninjured the last we saw him. But what exactly--" She breaks off as Rysen mentions the scroll, and in relation to her! "I do not have it," she says. "I do not know who does."

Ian gets ugly, singed, stained, multicolor scarf from Aged Satchel.

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 0 higher.

"If you pray, I wish to do it with you, to assist," Merek tells Olivia, with a nod to her, "The gods here us better when we come together, so do spirits," he adds. He twirls about the Nightsong, "I don't like to mutilate the form of the undead if we can avoid it, hopefully it won't come to putting them down like that."

Kaya checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 25, rolling 10 higher.

Aethan starts up the stairs then, taking them relatively quickly though without falling over and chopping himself in half, which is always a good thing. His expression is rather grim, and he turns to look back down the stairs as the banging of the things against their makeshift barricade gets louder.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 31 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 41 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 37 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 29 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 35 higher.

Ian has been here! Really! But, you know, he's not here to do the thinking. He's here to see if he can throw any more obstacles between the zombies and the group. Furniture? Debris? Little toys like in Home Alone? He'll take it. Now he follows Aethan up the stairs, moving slower. "We'll use this as a choke point."

Olivia checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 50, rolling 30 lower.

Downstairs there is an ominous creak, but the door holds.

Olivia reaches in her bag and opens the scroll. Looking it over. Its only half a scroll... and it isnt in a language she speaks... She can't figure anything out about it.... "Someone else want to try? I am gonna start praying." She offers the scroll up to the others.

"Thank you, Sir Merek," says Rysen, feeling a little relieved to have another in the party with knowledge of the hidden world. Rysen glances back over his shoulder at the hordes below. "The painting, the scroll... and all these abandoned. What's really going on here?" he asks quietly. "Something has set all of this into motion."

Kaya readies five arrows with pieces of cloth she found and soaked in alchol she also found in the pack she brought with her. She aims her bow and sets each arrow on fire before aiming at five of the walking dead approching the building the group is holed up in

Merek checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Merek looks to the undead while Kaya shoots them. He looks sick with each shot she takes, as though he can not bear to watch it, and he shakes his head a bit. He moves then to offer supplications for Olivia, it's all he can do, he doesn't seem to want to hurt the undead.

Rukhnis glances over at the scroll, but doesn't look as if she feels she's going to have any better idea what to do with it than Olivia did. "Do we have no one who might have a hope of reading it, or understanding such.. dark knowledge as it must consist of? That is surely not something I know anything of." She shifts her weight, looking uncomfortable and not pleased with herself for not having anything useful to do.

Ian notices the flaming arrows as he gets up the stairs. "Kaya! The last person I met who fought the walking dead said that flaming arrows just mean they keep coming but now they're on fire. Lord Tobias told me the things that worked were cutting off the legs and destroying the head."

"Olivia, may I look?" Merek asks, after he offers that supplication, holding his hand to take the scroll, only if she allows.

"I thought if I hit the head of the body with the arrow it may work," Kaya says mildly

Reigna GM Roll checked luck(3) at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Olivia hands the scroll over to Merek and starts praying to each and every god to help them in their situation.

Kaya she awaits Ian's directions obviouslly the man knows what to do. Kaya is silent and watchful. She shows no remorse or feeling about what she just did. She just watches the bodies burning

Merek checked intellect + riddles at difficulty 15, rolling 16 higher.

Rysen checked mana at difficulty 15, rolling 6 higher.

Rysen moves to stand beside Olivia as she prays. He places his hand gently on her shoulder. "Thank you, Livie. If they will hear us, it'll be through you and Merek's voices." He closes his eyes, and adds his own silent prayer.

"Tall me if they go out or fall over," Ian calls to Kaya from the head of the stairs. To Aethan, he says: "If they stay on fire, we'll have to fight them at the door. We can't risk them burning this house down."

Rukhnis glances obliquely over at Olivia, watching her for a long moment. She looks back out the window at the village full of shambling motion, listens to the insistent pounding at the barricades, and drops her gaze to the floor. Letting out a long, quiet breath, she closes her eyes and begins singing a soft melody under her breath, the words too soft to make out, but it sounds like a prayer in song -- a rough and scratchy song, but a song all the same.

Kaya nods and warches the burning bodies carefully

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 35, rolling 10 lower.

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 47 higher.

Olivia checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Rukhnis checked mana + performance at difficulty 30, rolling 5 higher.

Merek looks at the scroll, "A Eurusi dialect," he mentions, while he takes a moment, "Half the scroll, so I'll have to piece it together what it means," he adds. He uses all his scholar training to do his best with it. "What an enigma," he mentions. He then considers, while he nods a bit.
"The Great Maw, it is to be fed, a ritual... Steps as well as instructions. Ah, here is something that's important, it mentions 'Quiet'," he adds. "That works well with what I've already learned, but what does it mean, the Quiet of this village is important, a quiet..." He shouts at the window, "What does Quiet mean!?" In the most, you know, non-quiet way. But perhaps they will react to it.

Olivia stays on her knees. Focused on her prayers. Shutting out the entire world around her. She is in a trance like state now.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 9 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked luck(3) at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 18 higher.

Rhiannon has rolled a critical success!
Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 70 higher.

Rukhnis's left eye twitches a little bit at Merek's muttering and yelling, but the distraction passes, and she continues with her soft melodious prayer. Hoarsely sung though it may be, it yet has the force of will and belief and a deeply resonant harmony behind it.

Rysen's eyes flick open. "Quiet... there are no birds here, no animals, no sounds of any kind. It's the same in the glade Rukhnis and I found. It may also be a reference to the entity that goes by a similar name." Rysen turns to Merek. "What does it say about the ritual? Is there a way to disrupt it?"

Rhiannon slides into the window over the roof, appearing from nowhere. She shoots off two arrows from the window frame from that Ashford bow of hers. There's dirt on her face and her hair is either covered or covered in dirt to hide the bright golden shade. She looks around as she steps into the room. "Anyone hurt?"

While there are prayers and study going on, the flaming zombies continue to slowly spread the flames. Eight are burning now, and some of the wood making the walls is starting to smoke as flames take root. The zombies do not respond to Merek's questioning.

"The bodies are not falling and the flame is spreading," Kaya calls out

Rhiannon's shot hits the zombies hard, knocking them back into the others and one of the flaming zombies goes down, the fire going out.

Merek checked intellect + occult at difficulty 45, rolling 12 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 15, rolling 59 higher.

Olivia is still entirely unaware of everything going on around her as she continues her prayers.

Kaya sticks to regular arrows as she takes aim at the heads of one of the flaming corpses

Merek checked willpower at difficulty 25, rolling 5 lower.

"Tell me if you see the outer walls burn," Ian calls back, while trying to figure out how to turn a tabletop into a passable shield. "Not smoke, but flames."

Merek looks at the scroll, "It's too messed up, I will have to put it together with what I already know," he tells Rysen, then he looks at it. He realizes, and he stands up while he steps back, his gaze filled with something people rarely see from his, he picks up his breath and swallows. "No, it can't be. Not here, it's a ritual... To empower the Silence, the Archdemon, the villagers were sacrificing to it, they were offending the QUEEN this whole time, that means... Is this retribution of hers, or the example of what their master gives their folly? It's From Eurus, the ritual."

Kaya checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 17 higher.

Rhiannon checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 18 higher.

"We need to address this fire now or it will burn this place to the ground," Kaya shouts

There is a fierce crack and a scrape of wood on wood from downstairs as the door buckles and gives way. The zombies are pushing one another to get inside. There are still two left that are on fire. They are not yet near the door.

In intense excitement, Rysen says, "Sister Sophie told me about this, Merek - it's happened before. Only those of great faith were able to placate the Queen." Rysen turns to Rukhnis and Olivia, and then glances back towards Ian, Kaya and the others. "We need to buy them time." Turning back to Merek, Rysen says, "If you believe the gods favor you, it might be worth adding your voice to their prayers."

Rukhnis's body sways a little as she continues to sing, a hint of a dance in the motion of her head and hips even as she stands in the same spot on the floor. Like Olivia she seems to have tuned out the chaos of the scene around her -- zombies, flames, axes chopping up furniture; it's all the same to her as she goes on offering up her rough harmonies to the gods.

Kaya wields an ebon bladed sabre.

"Can we tell the Queen of Endings that we're very, very sorry?" Ian suggests (well, "suggests") with a twist of dry humor in his voice. He half hops, half falls down the stairs, a graceless stumble that almost sees him on his face at the bottom, but not quite. At least he's fast.

Rhiannon looks out the window and then she moves back over the sill and starts to loose arrows as fast as she can at the each of the zombies, trying to stop them from taking over the house. "We can't deal with the fire until we deal with those zombies."

Ian wields Heavy Cane.

Kaya slings her bow over her shoulder and wields her blade, nodding at Ian as if she will follow his lead

Aethan wields diamondplate axe.

"That's what we're hoping to do, but Lady Olivia's going to get a lot further with her apology that I would," says Rysen with a grin as he stands next to Ian with his sword drawn.

As those preparing to fight head down the stairs, there are three zombies inside, having scraped past the barrier leaving smears of blood and some skin on the walls. There are more, but for now, the egress is still mostly blocked.

Rysen checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 3 lower.

Kaya checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 12 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Aethan checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Rhiannon aims at one of the zombies closest to the door. She starts to loosen arrows, sitting on the window sill and pointed downward. She was able to take out one before and so she tries to do it again.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 9 higher.

Ian's alaricite sword sings as he draws it from within his cane; the body of the cane becomes a crude, oversized parrying dagger that he can use to force attackers back. "Fall back if you get too hurt. There's no reason for anyone to die here tonight." Which, considering the situation, is probably debatable. But Ian sounds truly serene, at peace with this situation and his role in it. The impossibly sharp sword slices through the neck of the first zombie, and he uses the body of the cane to shove the body back; the paired motions of blade and cane are beautiful, the way that stark, unadorned things can be beautiful.

Kaya moves with the grace and dexterity of a cat as she uses the edge of her blade to effectively decapitate one of the walking dead. She is quietly standing ready for her next target

Olivia checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 33 higher.

Merek checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 41 higher.

Rukhnis has rolled a critical success!
Rukhnis checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 37 higher.

The air quality changes, cool, fresh, refreshing -- like the spray of the ocean on one's face when facing into the wind. Overhead the sky splits open and torrents of rain begin to fall, the flames sizzling on contact and casting off steam.

Aethan pulls out his axe almost in synchronization with his brother -- the axe has a wicked-looking blade, kept sharp, and a spike at the back for other various things that the blade might not work as well for. His expression is calm -- maybe not quite as much as his brother, but somewhat. It serves him well -- when the things break down the door, he's ready, and he swings true, cleaving one's head clean off.

Merek kneels, while he begins to offer supplications, "Queen, in this time of need, we seek to quell and bring souls back unto you. I stand here as a servant of the one that trusted your return to the Compact, Jayus." He looks up and begins to place his gloved palms about the hilt Nightsong, "Hear these prayers, that we might make the night yours again!"

Rysen glances back up the stairs with a grin as he hears the sound of the rain. Turning back to the zombies by the barricade, he says, "There's a change in the winds. They're prayers are reaching Her ears."

Rysen has rolled a critical success!
Rysen checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 120 higher.

Kaya checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 25 higher.

Rhiannon checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 31 higher.

Ian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

Rysen pulls his sword back and steps towards the zombie nearest him, slashing his sword in a flashing arc. The zombie's head falls to the ground, and its body collapses nearby a moment later.

Rukhnis:prays on, her voice rises as she reaches a crescendo in her prayer, but as she does so the raspiness of her voice makes it break and catch. She falters for a moment, a deeply pained look crossing her face, and in this instant of silence a single tear trickles out from beneath one eyelid and tracks down her cheek. But taking a deep breath, she finds her voice again and goes on, in a whisper that seems somehow to catch on the breeze and resonate through the cooling air.

Aethan checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Olivia just keeps her prayers up. Not exactly silent. But she isn't much of an orator, so it is just mumbles as she prays, not very loud.

Ian murmurs a few words of what sounds like very sincere thanks to Mangata, his voice mostly muffled by the scarf that covers the lower half of his face, keeping the explosion of gore mostly off of his skin. (See? Scarf comes in handy.) It's all he can do to use the body of his cane to hold the zombie against the wall while Aethan and Kaya pin it in place.

Rukhnis checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Olivia checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 34 higher.

Merek checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 24 higher.

Outside the rain is doing its job, the flames that had been licking at the walls are nothing more than steam vapor on the breeze. And then there is another shift in the tenor of the air. Instead of silence, there is a shimmer in the air, a touch of giddy humor on the wind that sends electricity through the blood of each person. Outside there is a slow series of thuds, the pressure against the dresser abates as if the dead were ceasing their press.

Kaya after working with Ian and Aethan to pin the body where it is she keeps a quiet focus on what orders come next. Her position is one of defense as she awaits what is to happen

Rysen takes a step backward, and slashes his weapon through the air, sending a steam of accumulated gore splattering against the floor. "Do you feel that?" Rysen asks Kaya, as he notices the dead ceasing their assault.

Olivia is so focused she has no clue what is going on, she does however feel the change in the air. But she just keeps up her prayers. At this point someone is going to have to shake her out of this trance.

Merek keeps to the supplications, while he has his palms about the sword of his. He is relaxed as he feels the change.

Rukhnis's whispered prayer carries its soft and nearly indiscernible words through the newly-charged atmosphere, and she keeps on with at least as much fervency as she had started out with, despite the fact that any movement she's making now is more of a tremble than anything resembling dance.

Ian sighs. "Another blasted head pat." But he doesn't actually sound annoyed. He sounds just a little bit amused. But he's not going to assume they're safe until the night becomes still. Or, better yet, until some bird or animal noise breaks the stillness.

The sounds of the gasping, groaning and shuffling have ended. Over the course of twenty seconds, the only sound audible is wind and rain as it hammers down from the heavens. That low level sense of dread and wrongness that has lingered here, seems to have gone.

Rhiannon does not notice much while still aiming arrows. She pauses a moment as that feeling rolls through the group. She aims again, though holds her arrow and waits, watching.

Kaya nods quietly to Rysen but does not let her guard down. She keeps a defensive position seeming to await the next creature to kill if needed

Rysen rests his sword on his shoulder and walks back up the stairs to check on Rukhnis, Olivia and Merek.

Once the threats -- immediate ones, anyway -- are dealt with, Aethan backs away from the door as well, though keeps the axe at the ready just in case.

As the minutes tick by, it is clear that the attacks appear to have stopped. The rain continues to pour, but they have downgraded from sheets to just buckets of rain.

Olivia is still stuck in her prayers. She isn't stopping until she gets an all clear.

Merek checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

When it's clear there's no more danger, Ian sheathes his sword back into his cane and gingerly steps over the rotted bodies collapsed around the door, out into the rain. He loosens his scarf and looks up, considering the sky.

Merek looks to be exhausted from the supplications, once it's clear that all is well, he prostrates on the floor, and sighs deeply. His cloak atop him like a blanket of sorts, next to the other warriors.

Rysen sheathes his sword and kneels down next to Olivia. He places a hand on each of her shoulders. "I think it's over, Livie. It worked. The Queen has been appeased, the rain has come and the dead have ceased. You did it."

Olivia checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 7 lower.

Rukhnis lets out a sharp, wordless breath, and sags suddenly to her knees with a -thump-. She slumps forward to press both her palms against the floor, eyes still closed.

Rhiannon doesn't relax, guarding those praying as they do their work. She does not relax. She keeps her bow out, arrow at the tip and she just watches in the window, even if she is getting drenched.

Kaya stand her blade ready at her side she has not relaxed her careful watch and guard over the group and the building they inhabit. She stands near Ian as he looks up to the sky.

Olivia goes the way of the other two and collapses forwards in exhaustion.

What is Ian looking at? Is he looking at anything? He might be letting the drenching rain soak his face and wash the zombie gore out of his hair. He stands there, a peculiar little half smile finding the corners of his mouth, as though he were flirting with good humor.

Rysen catches Olivia as she falls forward, and sets her gently on the floor. He smiles and gets to his feet. He calls down to Ian. "My Lord, I'd suggest we stay in a secured position until morning, make a last sweep of the village, and then head back to Arx to make our report."

Rukhnis checked willpower at difficulty 20, rolling 9 higher.

Rukhnis doesn't allow herself the awful weakness of being on the floor for long, and shoves herself to her feet, swaying just a little bit once she's gotten there. She looks over to Rysen and Olivia, then away again, agreeing, "That seems a wise plan."

Rhiannon lets the bow draw back, the arrow sliding free as she watches for a moment longer and then glances at Olivia. "They doing ok?" Her eyes linger on her cousin.

"Only thing to worry about now are cultists and trophy hunters," Ian remarks, as though these things are not worth worrying about. "I'll keep watch tonight."

Merek's sleeping, at this point. For all of his ability to push forward, he still is a bit tired. His cloak like a blanket, he sleep.

"I will help you," Kaya says quietly not seeming to mind the rain washing over her small body

Olivia gets layed down on the ground. She looks exhausted. "I am just going to rest my eyes...."

For all of his suddenly easy going attitude, Ian does take the situation seriously enough to make sure Aethan sleeps downstairs, where it'll be easy to give him a kick if he needs to wake his brother up fast.

Rysen laughs wryly, and nods to Ian. He smiles at Rukhnis and walks over to Merek. Noticing the knight's asleep, he says softly, "Thank you, Sir Merek." He tosses a water skin to Rukhnis, knowing her song must have taken a lot out of her, and sits down beside Olivia, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Rhiannon glances back outside. "We'll have to take watch in turns so that no one gets too exhausted. She touches on the fighters in the group, but perhaps the fighters alone." She sends a glance at the leader of the party in question.

Merek offers a light grunt in his sleep of affirmation, perhaps.

The rain continues for a little while yet, dwindling down from the pour to a trickle to a mist. The night is clear, no sign of fog.

"I'll wake you up in a few hours," Ian promises. And he does, eventually, assuming that his part of the watch is quiet. Although he only makes a nod towards sleeping by going inside and sitting on the floor with his back to a wall. He never actually falls asleep.

Rukhnis catches the waterskin a bit clumsily, taking just enough of a drink from it to dampen her throat. Having managed this much uprightness, dexterity, and speech, Rukhnis lapses into silence and moves to stand by the nearest wall. She's just standing there, though. Not leaning against it. No way. Her eyes drift over to the window, a pensive expression in them.

Kaya takes a quiet position near Ian. She settles to sit but her posture and everything seems fully alert and watchful much like a wild animal as she silently helps keep watch.

Rhiannon takes her turn sleeping, but she's up otherwise. She's a scout, you sleep when and where you can, even in a tree. She sleeps the precise amount of time she has allotted and then she wakes and slides out onto the roof to keep her watch. Even in the rain, even in a downpour, she calmly watches on the roof.

The night passes quietly, nary a groan, moan or death rattle. When dawn breaks, birdsong fills the air, and there are a small herd of deer chomping down on the long grass near the well. It is fairly safe to say that all has returned to normal. The bodies are able to be disposed of as the party chooses, without incident, and this time? The count adds up.