Episode 237 - Defend These Walls, Ye Living Basterds

The horizon quakes with the sound of buzzing flies and the ground hums with impending doom. The Lich must know we are coming for the undead army sent to stop us is as fearsome as it is massive. Fear not! Your adventurers are hearty. They are swarthy. They are…good at magic and shooting arrows!

## **Story**

The battle begins as the group stands inside the walls of a garrisoned ~~city~~ small village, and a horde of undead are tearing at the gates. One of the city folk is freaking out atop the walls, wreaking havoc and causing people to waver and nearly fall. Jaela goes to face the big guy head on, while Toby stymies the horde at the gates. A breach begins to form at the walls, but it is slowed by Denton. The wall catches fire, which Rowan puts out, and Jerry grapples the Giant Skeleton. Steve stops the commoner from causing any more damage by pretending to be in danger, so he is forced to help. Some Zomboes begin climbing under the walls. Toby saves Denton from being attacked by a zombie. Rowan deals the killing blow to the Giant Skeleton, which eventually causes all the zombies to run away.

## **Trivia**

* As this is a Halloween episode, the cast is all dressed up in costumes, as listed:
	+ Tim Lanning is a tiger
	+ Jennifer Cheek is Princess Caroline from *Bojack Horseman*
	+ Nika Howard is Punk Eleven from *Stranger Things*
	+ Michael DiMaurio is Eraserhead from *My Hero Academia*
	+ Mike Bachmann is your dad, and he has something to tell you

## **In This Episode...**

### **Cast and Player Characters**

* Michael DiMauro - *Dungeon Master*
* Tim Lanning - Toby Treacletart
* Jennifer Cheek - Rowan Grey
* Mike Bachmann - Steve Meloncamp
* Nika Howard - Jaela

### **Quest Log Updates**

* [Active] - Curse of the Raven Queen / Destroy Sinu the Red

### **Quotes**

**"Thanks for saving me!**i can't believe i was saved by a child..." ~ *Denton Glenchester*

## **Rolls**

* **Recap**
	+ Tim - 10
	+ Nika - 12
	+ Bachmann - 7
	+ Jennifer was exempt, since she did the last two

*Combat/Skill Challenge Begins*

* *Initiative*
	+ Toby - 18
	+ Rowan - 12 (DEX mod 4)
	+ Jaela - 12 (DEX mod 1)
	+ Giant Skelington
	+ Jerry - 8
	+ Steve - 5 (DEX mod 2)
	+ Denton - 5

*Round One*

* **Toby**
	+ Attempts to know stuff about Zombies and the undead, rolls either *Religion* or *Intelligence*
		- 10, knows that they probably don't like fire, but maybe not
	+ Rolls *Arcana* to throw a Flaming Sphere 10 ft away from the gate
		- 17 - Success, stymies the horde coming up on it

* **Rowan** vs Giant Skeleton
	+ Range Attack (Magic Bow) supplemented with Lightning Arrow - 25 (+4 because undead are her "favored enemies")
		- Hit - 10 lightning damage, and each creature within 10 ft must make a DEX saving throw

* **Jaela**
	+ Activates boots, then Dimension Doors right next to the skeleton, near his head

* **Giant Skeleton**
	+ Just walks toward the gate, doesn't notice Jaela

* **Jerry**
	+ Leaps 90 ft toward the giant skeleton, sticky leg grapples him - 14
		- Slows him down, but does not stop him

* **Steve** still has the baby Xena with him
	+ ~~Throws *Alchemical Fire*~~
	+ Pretends to struggle with a log so that the villager causing havoc on the wall will be forced to come and help him, using *Persuasion*
		- 17 - Success, the villager, about to crash into Denton, climbs down to help Steve.

* **Denton**
	+ Casts *Turn Undead* on Zombies
		- Some of them turn to run, the breach is slightly lesser

*Round Two*

* **Toby**
	+ Moves the flaming sphere, casts Pyrotechnics to make it explode out 10 ft, requiring anything inside to make a DEX saving throw, another *Arcana* roll - 16
		- Success - blows a shit-load of them apart, but sets a part of the wall on fire

* **Rowan**
	+ Moves a Wind Wall, rolling a WIS check - Nat20
		- Of course, success - The wall is no longer on fire, and incinerate some of the front line of zombies.

* **Jaela**
	+ Casts a spell, making 3 melee attacks - 21, ??, 20
		- Hit, Miss, Hit - 19 damage, 33 radiant damage

* '*Giant Skeleton* vs Jaela
	+ Punches her (x2) one with disadvantage, one without - 19, Nat20
		- Hit, Hit - 18+28 bludgeoning damage

* **Jerry** vs Giant Skeleton
	+ Bites the skelington - Nat20
		- Hit - 13 damage

* **Steve**
	+ Uses a *Nature* check to shovel manure into the ground, to stop a group of zormbies from getting through - 17
		- Success - They scream "Shit!" like Biff from *Back to the Future*.

* **Denton**
	+ Gets grabbed by a zombie and dragged off the wall

*Round Three*

* **Toby**
	+ Casts *Levitate* to pull Denton back up - 27
		- Success - Saves him

* **Rowan**
	+ Hunter's Marks the Giant Skeleton, then attacks - 19
		- Hit - 15 damage - kills it!