Book 1 - Chapter 5: Have Sword - Will Travel, or How the West was Fun(dead)

[pringerbeam]

     "Maybe we can sneak... I mean maneuver... through the train building as cover and avoid alerting the undead." Suggested Thedrin with a point towards the train. "The train itself should then be able to convey us to the mine. Supposedly it's not based on any magic so we should be able to make it work."

[Asta]

"Certainly easier than fighting a swarm of zombies. Worth a try?" Scathach asked, turning to Cecilia and Rhenri.

[Asta]

After climbing down the tower of the town hall, and crossing the village you arrive at the long building where the massive vehicle sits on its tracks. Up close you can see that the steel behemoth has a compartment toward its rear behind the pipe that could easily fit four people. Behind said compartment is a large bin that contains an ample amount of coal.

The interior of the compartment houses a dizzying array of gauges and levers the function of which you cannot begin to fathom. At the front of the compartment is a furnace of sorts, which is currently unlit and cold. Nearby on a small shelf is a leather bound book.

[Oath]

Cecilia couldn't help but poke her head into the compartment. The book caught her eye, and if any of them were to figure out how to get the train running that would be the best place to start. She grabbed the book from its place on the shelf.

"Give me a moment, I'll see if I can figure this out."

She began reading.

[Asta]

The book was indeed an instruction manual for the steam engine. After spending about twenty minutes thumbing through the pages detailing the devices operation Cecilia was able to grasp the gist of what was presented therein.

The firebox would need to be lit and stocked with coal from the bin behind the compartment, the heat of the flame would boil water in an internal compartment and produce steam, which through some mechanical wizardry would provide power to the wheels. A certain lever, now easily identified would tell the engine to run forward or in reverse. All in all a simple matter provided you pulled the breaking lever before you ran out of track.

"You learn anything? Are we ready to go?" asked Scathach.

[Oath]

"We should be able to make the train work just fine, the book was instructions, we need to light the fire and put a bunch of coal inside to power the train."

She gestured towards the firebox and bin of coal.

"Let's get on and get started."

[Asta]

Following the instructions from the book your party begins the process of starting the train. Once the fire is going, it is only a short while before the water in the internal tank begins to boil and steam forms in the chamber. A gauge in the cabin indicates that the pressure has reached the correct level to engage the engine, and once the proper lever is thrown the mechanical marvel begins to chug and groan against its weight.

Slowly and with a great squealing the iron wheels of the train grind against the track, eventually finding purchase the train starts to move along its predetermined path. It takes a minute or two to reach speed, but once it does the plains begin to whip by at a generous clip. The train is significantly faster than even the most well bread horse, and its momentum is almost frightening.

After a short while, you can spot the hoard of zombified villagers growing steadily larger as you approach. The ones on the track do not present a problem however, as the massive metal behemoth begins to plow through them without so much as slowing down. The ones that are not instantly crushed to a sticky pulp under the wheels are tossed a considerable distance from the track by means of a large scoop shaped construction on the front of the train. Scathach lets out a yelp of appreciation for the destructive power of the vehicle.

Eventually, as you near the end of the track, one of you disengages the engine and throws the break. The train begins to screech to a halt and eventually comes to a stop at the end of the line, though there is a moment where you feel as if it might not halt in time.

Dismounting quickly, as the noise of the train is likely to attract any zombies in the area you hurriedly make your way to the entrance of the mine. Passing through its entrance you follow a narrow path until it opens up into a chamber. Within, you find a pack of zombies who notice your arrival and turn to shamble in your direction...

[info]Roll initiative.
Roll20 Link[/info]

[pringerbeam]

[info] Initiative [blockquote]Rolled 1d20 : 2, total 2[/blockquote][/info]

[Throndir]

[info][blockquote]Initiative 1d20+8 : 1 + 8, total 9[/blockquote][/info]

[Oath]

[info]Initiative: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 16 + 6, total 22[/blockquote]

[Asta]

Reacting quickly to the presence of the undead villagers, Scathach knocks and fires two arrows in rapid succession. The first whips past her target by a hair, but the second sinks itself into the rotting flesh of the zombie's chest.

[okay]Scathach shoots Zombie 3 twice, hits once, 4 damage.[/okay]
[info]Cecilia to go.[/info]

[spoiler=Combat Log]
Roll 20 Link
Initiative Order: Scathach, Cecilia, Zombie 1, Zombie 2, Rhenri, Thedrin, Zombie 3
Round 1:
Scathach shoots Zombie 3, 4 damage[/spoiler]

[Oath]

Scatchach loosed her arrows, and Cecilia drew in a deep breath along with her will. A word, barely more than a whisper escaped her lips and she felt the familiar comfort of her magical energies shielding her from harm. Then moved up behind Thedrin to support him from range.

[info] Cecilia casts Mage Armor. Moved 10 feet.
Spells Prepared: Level 1: Mage Armor, Color Spray, Grease
Level 2: Summon Monster II, Web
[/info]

[Asta]

As Cecilia's magic coalesced around her, two of the zombies shambled toward Thedrin with surprising speed. At the end of their charges, they brought both arms down in a clumsy smash that was easily blocked by the paladin's shield.

[okay]Zombie 1 charges Thedrin, miss[/okay]
[okay]Zombie 2 charges Thedrin, miss[/okay]
[info]Rhenri to go.[/info]

[spoiler=Combat Log]
Roll 20 Link
Initiative Order: Scathach, Cecilia, Zombie 1, Zombie 2, Rhenri, Thedrin, Zombie 3
Round 1:
Scathach shoots Zombie 3, 4 damage
Cecilia casts Mage Armor
Zombie 1 attacks Thedrin, miss
Zombie 2 attacks Thedrin, miss[/spoiler]

[Throndir]

Rhenri took a deep breathe as she quickly drew arrows from her quiver and began to fire at the incoming zombies.

"I reckon they're fixin' to get themselves kilt twice."

[info]Current Stance: Leaping Spirit Dance
Swift Action: Change stance to Stance of the Piercing Rays
Free: 5 ft. step SW.
Full attack action: Point-Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, Precise Shot
[blockquote]attack 1 1d20+7 : 17 + 7, total 24[/blockquote]
[blockquote]piercing 1d8+1 : 4 + 1, total 5[/blockquote]
[blockquote]fire 1d6 : 6, total 6[/blockquote][/info]
[blockquote]attack 2 1d20+7 : 11 + 7, total 18[/blockquote]
[blockquote]piercing 1d8+1 : 5 + 1, total 6[/blockquote]
[blockquote]fire 1d6 : 5, total 5[/blockquote][/info]

[Asta]

Rhenri's arrows slam into the zombie and the smell of burning flesh fills the area. The wounds are sufficient enough to de-animate the walking corpse and it crumples to the ground lifeless once more.

[okay]Rhenri shoots Zombie 1 twice, 22 damage total. Zombie 1 is dead.[/okay]
[info]Thedrin to go.[/info]

[spoiler=Combat Log]
Roll 20 Link
Initiative Order: Scathach, Cecilia, Zombie 1, Zombie 2, Rhenri, Thedrin, Zombie 3
Round 1:
Scathach shoots Zombie 3, 4 damage
Cecilia casts Mage Armor
Zombie 1 attacks Thedrin, miss
Zombie 2 attacks Thedrin, miss
Rhenri shoots Zombie 1, 22 damage[/spoiler]