With a few subtle gestures and softly uttered words, Solsken casts Bear’s Endurance on the Norseman, and then draws his spear as the zombies charge.
“Harald, I’ve got your back.”
To himself, he mutters, “Well, so much for a nice boring hot Italian afternoon…”
If the zombies attacking Valente don’t react to Giacomo’s “killing” their comrade, Giacomo will withdraw, circle through the crowd, and attack another of those zombies from behind. Hopefully Valente is still managing to defend himself.
If they do notice him and come after him, Giacomo will retreat quickly and draw his second dagger. He will try to get near Harald or the Brute, whichever is nearer, so the zombies will hopefully be flanked.
My bird is only to join the fray if I am directly attacked and/or engaged with an enemy, in which case she will swoop, attack, and fly on (boom and zoom attack more or less-i.e. NOT linger).
Joseph whips out his longsword and makes a direct lunge at the zombie on the ground near Harald. He barely connects, but since that connection is with the zombie’s neck, it’s enough to finish the animate corpse, which collapses. Zombie #2
Zombie #4, formerly a rather comely young woman, grimaces at Giacomo and whips out at him with both hands. Her nails rake across Giacomo’s face, and he’s now bleeding severely. Nine damage, of 16 HP total.
Aji steps in between Zachary and the flaming, shambling zombie, who is continuing toward Zachary. Aji drops into a ready stance, muscles poised but not yet tensed.
As the flaming zombie approaches, Aji crouches, prepares himself, and lashes out at the zombie the instant the creature enters his reach. His hands flash outward almost too quickly to be seen, and when his hands come back, they’ve got thick, congealed blood over the knuckles. The zombie collapses, her face caved in. Zombie #6 killed.
At this point, only the two zombies still pinning Valente remain. Taye steps up, gestures quickly, and shimmering disturbances in the air lance outward toward the zombies and slam into their chests. One zombie remains near Valente, but the other stands and charges Taye! The zombie reaches his hands out for Taye’s throat, but his hands close only on air as the Mage Armor deflects the blow.
That’s round one. Any adjustments?
The Brute grins in satisfaction. He loves it when their heads cave in like that! He wheels around, looking for the next threat.
If one of the other zombies is within a five foot step, he’ll move up and make a Power Attack. Otherwise, same as last round: stick close to Zach, and ready a Power Attack if anything gets too close. NB: Power Attacks are my default attack mode. I’ll try to remember to be explicit about it when I declare my actions.
OK. It didn’t matter either way on that one; both your attack and damage rolls were plenty high enough.
Good. Let’s get this started, then. Han ! axe blow WHO’S GRINNING NOW YOU POXED SON OF A THRALL, HUH ?! leaves axe embedded in zombie, grabs the other firmly by the skull with two hands and proceed to repeatedly pound it into the cobblestones AND YOU, FUCK YOU ! FUCK YOU ! FUCK YOU ! AaaaAAAAH** FUCK YOU !** Joseph’s sword thrust cuts the proceedings short WHAT ? WHO THE HEL… ?! GET AWAY FROM ME YOU SINGING BASTARD ! SOLSKEN ! Solsken where are you, you mangy cur ?! We’re not done here, there’s more of these smoking maggots !
If there are still some unalive and kicking by the time his turn comes up, Harald pushes past Joseph and **charges **at the nearest zombie, still in his rage. Power attack, one axe blow, no waiting :).
Otherwise I’m going to let the rage wind down, turning that one zombie into finer grain mush and taking the Fatigued status for 2 rounds, and ask aloud [COLOR=Black]“Is it over ? Anyone see anything ? Anybody hurt ? Anybody *not *an immolated blackguard ?”[/COLOR]
Zachary holds his fire seeing the only remaining zombies are in hand-to-hand, although he can throw *very *accurately when he has to. He grabs a potion from the small stock on his wagon in case either Giacomo or Valente needs help in a hurry.
Right, I forget that since I got to act in the surprise round I should have declared two different actions. Regarding the weapons - I’m going to go ahead and do the whip stuff. Seems more useful in the long run. As far as the bardic performance goes, Joseph’s primary performance is oratory, so I figure his inspire courage is more about providing providing tactical support than singing, hence his advice to Zachary at the beginning of the first round.
Joseph grabs the coiled whip hanging from his right hip and there’s a loud crack! in the air as he snaps it out (cue *Indiana Jones *theme). Its tip wraps around the ankle of the zombie attempting to claw at Taye and he tugs hard, trying to bring the creature down.
Attempting a trip manuever and then letting the bardic performance fade off at the end of the round.
Ah. Well, edit out “SINGING” in post, then 
“I’m right behind you, beastman-and I’ll let you know that a wandering cleric cured me of that a few weeks ago…”
[My bird remains above with the prior order still standing. I will charge any remaining zombies and assist in their destruction.]
“Foul creature! You would lay hands upon my person? Away from me!”
Cast Flare If the zombie is dazed and no one else finishes it I follow up with a claw attack.
If the zombie is finished I move towards Giacomo shouting
[COLOR=Black]“Friend Hawkins, it appears you have yet another victim for your experiments!”
[/COLOR]
“Valente, When I said your crazy girlfriends would be the death of you I didn’t think they’d be the death of me as well!”
I think there is only one zombie left, the one that is attacking Taye. If so, I will move so that the zombie is between me and Taye, and try a flanking sneak attack. If there are more zombies I will withdraw to the cart, getting behind either Harald or the Brute at a forty five degree angle.
ETA: If the zombies are all dead, I concur with Taye and ask Zachary for a healing potion.
There are two more; one on Valente, one on Taye.
If the zombie is attacking me: Then I withdraw, either behind the Norseman or the Brute, moving in such a way that the Zombie will provoke an attack of opportunity if it follows.
If the zombie is concentrating on Valente: I will try a flanking sneak attack, assuming Valente is still actively defending.
I would like my actions to stand,
If the zombie attacking me is finished, I follow Giacomo and equip my Morningstar in my primary hand (my left).
Zombies 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 already dead.
Giacomo retreats nimbly, staunching the blood from his cheek with his sleeve. He darts in beside Aji and takes up a comfortable defensive position. Zachary ducks in next to him, eyeing Giacomo carefully with respect to the goods in the cart.
Solsken raises his spear, gives a cry, and charges at the zombie standing by Valente. His spear point flashes through the air but doesn’t connect with the zombie, who gives a moan of anger.
Joseph unfurls his whip and it cracks out toward the zombie next to Valente, but it doesn’t connect.
The zombie next to Solsken reaches out with a claw, but Solsken bats it away easily with the shaft of his spear.
With a grunt, Aji takes a quick step toward Taye, makes a grab, and quickly crushes the intruder’s skull.
His eyes swirling in his head, Harald takes his axe firmly in hand and with a wild cry, charges the last remaining zombie. His Danish axe whistles through the air and buries itself deep in the zombie’s ribcage. Nearly bisected at the ribcage, the zombie collapses to the flagstone pavers.
That’s the whole combat. More to come tonight about crowd and Valente’s reactions.
The teeming fair-goers have fled from the square, with a few shambling monsters pursuing them, unconcerned with the group of fighters around the alchemist’s cart. Even the pigeons have fled; the only remaining bird is Solsken’s falcon, perched atop the Doge’s palazzo. An eerie quiet has descended, drawing a sharp contrast with the bright sun and clear blue sky.
Marco Valente climbs slowly but surefootedly to his feet. His torn clothes reveal an excellent coat of Dwarven mail, undamaged by the zombies’ assault, though his face bears the marks of the fight. He wipes his long knife clean(er) on his filthy sleeve and turns to the group.
“Well fought, friends! It takes more than a few demon-spawn to put down a good Genoese fair. My name is Valente. With whom am I speaking?”
Marco is interrupted by a series of screams from inside the Doge’s home.
“On second thought, we’ll leave the introductions for later. I’ll need your help in clearing the palace. You’ll be well compensated for your troubles, I assure you.”
“Sigh…This is getting to be a bad habit with us, Harald…”
I move my spear to its customary position on my back. I draw up close to Sr. Valiente as he introduces himself.
Well, we had best make haste - Zachary hastens to grab a few necessities before the off, motivated of course entirely by the wish to help a stranger in need and not at all by the promise of compensation.