Ch'dau is the first one down the stairs.  Nya, pale as a ghost, stares at the stout front door that is coming off its hinges from the blows being rained upon it from outside.  The two large, shuttered windows are likewise being forced upon.

It is, in fact, a shutter that gives way first, with a sickly, decying green arm reaching through.  Soon, the shutters are both gone, and the door follows suit, admitting several of the shambling dead like the party encountered on the road.  

Somewhere outside, maniacal giggling can be heard...

"Looks like the earth needs a hand keeping it's dead!" quipped Midge, as the creatures from the road returned to trouble the party. "Stay away from the door, friends, and keep me safe. I need some peace!"

Once more, Midge's hand moved to his satchel, replacing the piece of leather with a square of red cloth. The words of power came to the Cidal's sharp mind quickly. "Deloi bitr, gath minen pomnuria fjandi!"

OOC: Midge is casting Summon Swarm. I'm hoping it will create the 10ft cube near the door, so that any creatures coming in through the door will have to pass through the swarm and take damage. If he can cast that from the "safety" of the second floor, awesome! Otherwise, he'll move to the bottom of the stairs before he casts. 

Olan, if you don't care, I'd love for the swarm to be beetles and centipedes, as if the earth is trying to reclaim the dead. If you do care, I rolled a 53... so, bats.

He heard blessings called at his back – perhaps a quip and a cry, as well – but the call to the fight drew him more so he charged ahead. Ch’dau hadn’t registered whether or not his feet touched any steps, at all, but, when they found purchase on the floor of the common room, claws extended from his toes and dug into the wood planks as his gaze swept the scene. The serving wench, Nya, stood frozen, her mouth and eyes wide in fear as she gawked at the door and shutters that were all but free of their hinges…

“You!” Ch’dau barked, trying to draw Nya’s attention away from the splintering door, “Girl! Get yourself to the cellar and bar the way behind you!” The kazari didn’t bother to seek out any other face, even if there happened to be one; instead, as he strode for the door, he simply growled; “And if any of the rest of you do not care to spill blood, follow Nya!”

…He had taken a step, maybe two, and was about to launch himself across the remaining distance to the bursting doorway when the familiar voice of Midge called out a warning...

“Stay away from the door, friends,” the Cid’s voice chirped through the commotion, “and keep me safe. I need some peace!”

... Knowing, now, that the little mage was planning a spell to address the shamblers that threatened the Nicked Shill’s doorway, Ch’dau altered his plan of attack and diverted to claim those undead wretches that tried to haul themselves through the window to the right of the entryway. If Gib were to be next down the steps, Ch’dau was sure, the battle-cleric would know to take the other window… The kazari roared as he plowed into the fight, his teeth gnashing and blades swinging.

((OOC: As stated, Ch’dau is heading for the far window hoping to stem the flow from that point. If there are targets of opportunity (or simply more crucial threats) en route, he’ll take them as they come. Blade, claw, and tooth!))

Following hot on the big cat's heels, Gib is immediately beset by images of horror breaking through the windows and doors. Zombies have broken into the city and are besetting the inn. Zombies have broken into the city... images of the poor watchman at the gate that Ch'dau had been overly generous to lying dead and devoured invade his mind, of people sleeping in their beds waking to the decaying flesh of the deceased, of children...

Drawing up short as the Silver Cat rushes on, Moreno sets his jaw as Ch'dau calls out, "You! Girl! Get yourself to the cellar and bar the way behind you! And if any of the rest of you do not care to spill blood, follow Nya!”

“Looks like the earth needs a hand keeping it's dead! Stay away from the door, friends,” the Cid’s voice breaks through the commotion, “and keep me safe. I need some peace!”

Assessing the situation, Gib knows he must call upon Therassor to fend off as many of these creatures as he can in order to give he and his companions a chance at defending these good people of Ertain. 

"Deloi bitr, gath minen pomnuria fjandi!" Midge calls out his arcane words and the warrior priest holds his sword up before him, the emblazoned silver disc with a brilliant sword displayed on the guard.

"In the name of the Great General, Therassor, the Battle Lord, I command you BEGONE foul creatures!"

(OOC: No matter the results...)

Seeing that Ch'dau has taken one of the windows and that Midge's magic is directed at the doorway, Gib advances on the remaining window calling out, "That cackling fiend is about somewhere! Watch yourselves!"

The sight of undead reaching through the shutters made Kithran's jaw tighten. They were not so lucky to have the inn hold out on the assault long. The shutters were ripped away and the door quickly followed suit, allowing several of the dead to enter the building. The laughter outside did not escape her attention. Kithran's grip on her weapons tightened and she steeled herself to prepare for combat.

Ch'dau took control of the situation quickly, shouting to the barmaid who still stood behind the counter before striding towards the door. “You! Girl! Get yourself to the cellar and bar the way behind you! And if any of the rest of you do not care to spill blood, follow Nya!”

“Looks like the earth needs a hand keeping it's dead! Stay away from the door, friends,” Midge's voice rang out, “and keep me safe. I need some peace!”

Gib's voice joined the fray: "In the name of the Great General, Therassor, the Battle Lord, I command you BEGONE foul creatures!"

Seeing her companions take their positions, Kithran darted across the room to provide backup to Ch'dau. If one of the undead made their way past the kazari, she intended to have her blades at the ready to stall their advance. Still, her mind was whirling through several possibilities. "If we can funnel them through a single entrance, we stand a better chance," She called out loud enough to hopefully reach all of her companions. "Perhaps we can cut through the first of them and use the tables as barricades to redirect the others."

((OOC: Kithran is gonna try to keep at Ch'dau's back and fight from a second line position again))

Ch'dau reaches the common room and heads for the right side window, and is soon joined by Gib on the left.

Cedric blesses the party members as they hurry down the stairs.  Midge begins his incantation, and finishes just as the first two indead break their way into the common room.  A swarm of creepy crawlies arise from he earth and begin devouring the dead flesh of those undead - though they are not enough to stop them. 

Fortunately, Aranwen is able to head them off.  The bladesinger deftly steps in and slices a huge chunk of flesh from one of the walking dead.  Unfortunately, her moving to engage brings her a bit too close to the swarm of insects, which issue a fair number of painful stings and bites.

The warrior cat and warrior priest find themselves with a huge advantage; the dead are coming through relatively small openings, and are slow and stiff.  Both are able to strike down foes before they can get through, but the bodies are simply pulled out of the window and replaced by more walking dead!  Gib's efforts at calling for Therassor's aid provide a moments respite, but no more... any that may have fled are replaced by a press of bodies.

Aranwen finds that she cannot press far enough ahead to hold the door without sustaining serous damage from the swarm of insects; the bugs continue to carve the flesh from the zombies (and one falls still from the onslaught), but soon, there are five in the common room.  From the sound outside, it seems there is a horde of the shamblers!

And then, a swift form dashes through the swarm and joins the fray.  Cackling maniacally is another of the paralysis-inducing creatures from the road... only this one looks quite freshly dead.  And is wearing tattered robes of sky blue.

As Aranwen hurries down the stairs, she passes Midge and Cedric, feeling the warmth of Cedric's blessing as she passes by and enters the commotion of the common room. Seeing that the windows are guarded by Ch'dau and Gib, Aranwen's attention turns to the front door. The doors begin to come off their hinges and two rotting zombies are able to slip through.

Just then, a swarm of insects rises from the ground at the foot of the door and engulfs the entering zombies. Though the zombies are battered and bitten by the swarm, they continue their progress into the room. Aranwen rushes forward, sword moving in a blur, a wordless tune escaping her lips as she enters the fray, moving to cut down the zombies. Her sword cuts deeply into one of the zombies, and it falls to the ground, lifeless again. The other zombie, caught in the deadly swarm of insects, is felled from the onslaught. However, Aranwen herself feels the sting of several bites, as she gets a little too close the the stinging swarm.

Aranwen backs up, away from the swarm, and prepares to strike at any zombies moving in through the doorway. Soon enough there are more than enough targets, as five more zombies shamble through the entryway. Aranwen continues to fight defensively, using quick strikes to stay ahead of the zombies claws. And then, a swift form dashes through the swarm and joins the fray, its maniacal laughter alerting Aranwen to the danger. As she moves to intercept this unholy creature, realization washes over Aranwen. The tattered, sky blue robes it's wearing indicate that it is in fact one of the pilgrims that Aranwen failed to protect on the road leading to Crandel. Feeling rage and anger starting to build at the sight, Aranwen refocuses herself and stays at peace within her battle trance, hardening that rage into resolve...resolve to end this creature's unnatural and tortured existence.

After blessing everyone Cedric will move down the stairs and ask Soloanis to banish these undead. [turn undead]

Cedric looks around and determines that Gib is hurt the most and will try to cast cure light wounds on him.

Cedric is overwhelmed with the horror and number of these undead. How is the rest of the town coping? And we are stuck here. Argh!

"Where are they coming from?"

Grimacing through each splattering of gore resulting from a stroke of the sword, the warrior priest of Therassor, God of Righteous Battle, does his best to keep an eye on the rest of their confined battleground without causing him a disadvantage in his engagement. Distinctly aware that the press of undead seems to be unended with unknown throngs remaining outside, he wonders how long he and his companion's strength will hold and just how many of the foul necromantic denizens remain. 

"If we can funnel them through a single entrance, we stand a better chance," Kith's call rings out from the other side of the commons room where she is supporting Ch'dau's efforts. "Perhaps we can cut through the first of them and use the tables as barricades to redirect the others."

"Grand idea," Gib replies with as light a tone as he can muster. "Perhaps you and Cedric can see to the task?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Priest Moreno Enderedre catches sight of his fearless leader dancing into the buzzing and clicking insects that Midge has summoned in his effort to destroy those zombies pushing past the conjured wall of biting and stinging things. As stoic as the Sylvari is, the cleric catches grunts of pain and knows that his friend is suffering for his bravery. 

"On second thought," Gib loudly growls, "Cedric, please see to Aranwen! Atharis, assist Kith!"

And then, a swift form dashes through the swarm. Cackling maniacally another of the paralysis-inducing creatures from the road—looking quite freshly dead and wearing the tattered robes of sky blue that had been the garb of the pilgrims they had left earlier that day—joins the fray.

"By the blood!" Gib curses. Zombies have begun to fill the commons room and now they have this foul beast to contend with. "Back to the stairs! Retreat to the stairs!

"Midge and Atharis, to the very back, Cedric and Kith, defend their position, Aranwen and Ch'dau take the front and I shall support you two from behind!" 

It is the only way he can see that they might prevail. With the clerics in a support position to the warriors, the gods might smile upon them with a miracle or two keeping the big cat and the bladesinger alive while the little rogue can hopefully assist and protect the wizards in their casting and all within a narrow gap limiting the number of shamblers that could access them, preventing a flanking advantage to the enemy, and allowing the party to deal with these beasts in a more organized manner. The only unknown in the warrior priest's mind is the cackling creature and just what it is capable of.

Knowing he is not the leader of the party but hoping that his advice in the past has been enough to lend credence to his hasty suggestions, Gib begins his tactical retreat to take up his prescribed position on the stairs.

Cutting down the reanimated corpses that sought entry to the Nicked Shill through the windows was effective enough. Between his efforts and Gib’s, not a single zombie had managed it’s way entirely through either of the windows. Despite these efforts, though, it had begun to look like an exercise in futility; as soon as one shambler was hacked down, another took it’s place and, from what Ch’dau was able to see beyond the death-choked casement, there were hordes of the things yet to come…

“If we can funnel them through a single entrance, we stand a better chance,” Kith called out from behind him, “Perhaps we can cut through the first of them and use the tables as barricades to redirect the others!”

“Grand idea,” the cleric of Therassor responded from his position at the other window.

…Whatever Gib might have said next was lost to the Kazari’s ears, though. In the wake of one last furious slash at the zombie currently trying to work it’s way in through the window, Ch’dau backed away, sheathing his blades, and sought out the nearest table. He scooped a lamp from the top of the thing and hurled it through the window, then hefted the table and slammed it against the gore-spattered portal, hoping to deter any more of the undead from coming through, if only for a moment. With the makeshift barricade in place, the Silver Cat quickly assessed the room, catching sight of Aranwen as the bladesinger boldly danced into the swarm of insects summoned by Midge. Fur or not, Ch’dau mused, impressed by the Syl’s courageousness, Rrowl’s blood flows in that one’s veins!

Beyond the stinging swarm and Aranwen’s flashing blade, Gib continued to call out direction; “On second thought, Cedric, please see to Aranwen! Atharis, assist Kith!”

Growling, Ch’dau pulled one blade as he stalked across the floor, leaving his other hand free to haul another table into play. Before he could grab hold of the table, though, an unnaturally swift figure darts through the swarm and succeeds at making the interior of the inn. The cackling laughter that it emits stirs a phantom ache in the big cat’s joints and the tattered remnants of the sky-blue robes it wears ties a knot in his gut. Abandoning thoughts of the second table, Ch’dau pulled his second blade, instead, and roared as he leapt to aid Aranwen, who had already moved to intercept the giggling monstrosity.

((OOC: If there is another zombie closer to Ch’dau than the chitterer, at this point, he’ll take time to engage that one, of course… especially if Aranwen seems to be holding her own… might even be a good time to bring some of Ch’dau and Kith’s “synergistic” fighting tactics into play if the rogue is up to it – the cat seeking to take the zombies legs out from under them while Kith runs up his back and catapults herself into the air for some good old DfA action?... Either way… ))

“By the blood!” Gib’s oath booms over the battle. “Back to the stairs! Retreat to the stairs!..”

“Kazari do not retreat,” Ch’dau snarled even though his steps had already brought him closer to the staircase.

“…Midge and Atharis, to the very back,” Gib’s orders continued, “Cedric and Kith, defend their position! Aranwen and Ch’dau, take the front and I shall support you two from behind!”

A savage, sharptoothed ‘smile’ spread across the kazari’s face, at this, and he clanged his sickle-bladed falcata together as he barked out a quick succession of barking roars to challenge their attackers as he placed himself between the walking dead and his friends.

 ((OOC2: This assumes that the rest do, in fact, fall back to the stairway… Ch’dau will play big, fuzzy wall and keep himself in the way of anything that tries to gain the steps. He’ll do his best to fight defensively but… you know… kazari and all that! ))

Cedric acknowleges the changing situations and backs to the stairs and takes out his staff to protect the wizards. "This is getting ridiculous." If he has a moment he will cast barkskin on himself and wearing his amulet of Solanis boldly.

He hopes his last turn undead did something to help.

At first, it seemed Shinara had seen fit to smile upon the battle. Midge's incantation saw the undead beset by swarms of starving insects. In any situation, Kithran might have cocked a brow at that particular strategy, but it seemed to at least be slowing their enemies. Ch'dau and Gib were able to cut through the first wave of foes; Aranwen also was able to land a blow to one.

"Grand idea," Gib replied to her earlier suggestion. "Perhaps you and Cedric can see to the task?"

As it turned out, Ch'dau himself was already dragging one of the tables in front of a window (after flinging its lamp at their enemies). Kithran nodded at the effort and worked to tip another on to its side so that it could become a barrier as well.

((OOC: my mind blanked on badass rogue moves for the moment. whoops))

The battle had not paused for their defensive efforts. Kithran notcied as Aranwen was forced to put some distance between her foes to keep herself from becoming a meal to the insects. The felled foes at the windows were pulled away as more of their companions fought to get through. Gib growled out a change to his request, but Kithran realized their chances of defending were weakened by the five figures that had now managed to fight their way inside the inn.

The same hideous cackling they had experienced on the road joined the groans from their other enemies. Kithran caught a glimpse of the tattered blue robe. Her chest tightened at the sight. It had not taken long for whatever man the creature might have been to turn.

“By the blood! Back to the stairs! Retreat to the stairs!" Gib's order was barked out over the chaos and quickly met by an indignant roar and rebuttal from their kazari companion. The order continued: "Midge and Atharis, to the very back,” Gib’s orders continued, “Cedric and Kith, defend their position! Aranwen and Ch’dau, take the front and I shall support you two from behind!”

A string of curses slipped out of Kithran's mouth as she assumed a defensive position on the stairs. Even as they retreated, however, her mind was straining. The height of the stairs could give them an advantage. She thought on it for a moment, then called out to Ch'dau as he took up a defensive stance before the stairs: "If one gets close enough, we could use the height to our advantage!"

((OOC: I assume Kithran is a few steps up? If there's a bannister/railing, she'd climb it and leap to try and take opporotunity of enemies attacking Ch'dau/Gib/whoeevr is at bottom of steps))

Aranwen is about to move to intercept the cackling fiend, surrounded by muliple zombies, when he realizes a change in strategy is needed. Gib, master of battle tactics, must have seen this at the same time, for he called out  "By the blood! Back to the stairs! Retreat to the stairs! Midge and Atharis, to the very back, Cedric and Kith, defend their position, Aranwen and Ch'dau take the front and I shall support you two from behind!" Gib had quickly devised a new plan of attack, and Aranwen approved.

Ch'dau and Kithran had broken off their attempt to blockade the window, and had grudgingly started retreating back to the stairs. Gib, closer to the stairwell, took up his position a few stairs up from the bottom. Aranwen fell in step beside Ch'dau and took his position at the bottom of the stairwell, while Kithran continued up to support from above.

As the press of zombies lurched closer, the groans and infernal laughter grew louder, Aranwen glanced over at Ch'dau and saw a savage smile spread across the kazari’s face. The fearless silver cat then banged his blades together and roared out in challenge. The sylvari answered by flourishing her blade and reinforcing it with her bladesong, singing out in defiance of these unnatural horrors.

(OOC Aranwen will continue to fight defensively, adding her Bladesinger +2 bonus to his AC)

So many thoughts wanted to take up residence in Minto's mind. Thoughts like, Oh! You are rather clever, Minto! "Giving earth a hand..." That was well said! or Didn't I tell them to stay clear of the door? Does that haughty syl think he's the exception? or ...

But the cidal conjurer pushed all those thoughts aside to stay focused on harnessing the swarm. Even the battle priest's command to move didn't disturb the wee wizard. They'll just have to work around me.

OOC: Midge is continuing to hold his concentration on the swarm for at least the next round. If you are doing multiple rounds, Midge will continue to hold the swarm if it looking like there are still enemies walking through the swarm. When that stops being the case, he'll switch to firing sling bullets at the creatures.

Ch'dau's lamp throw is textbook, as it strikes a zombie flush in the face and spatters it with flaming oil.  Sadly, he cannot take the time to admire his handiwork, instead shoves a table in the way to block the entrance.

The group falls back to the stairs, some more reluctantly than others.  Aranwen cuts down two of the shamblers in the process, but the two are quickly replaced - and then some - by the press of bodies forcing their way through the doorway, and now, through the vacated window.  Ch'dau's table holds for a time, though the banging from the other side promises to change that...

Cedric calls on Solanis to banish the undead, and for a moment, things look hopeful.  Several turn to flee, creating a traffic jam at the doorway where Midge's swam continues to ravenously attack the rotting flesh - dropping one of the zombies in a partially blocking manner.

But then, the giggler is upon you, and chaos reigns supreme.

This freshy turned pilgrim is fierce, laying about with claws and fangs.  Slashing, leaping away to let a zombie press in, leaping back in the moment its target is occupied. Aranwen takes a pair of gouges, though he remains unaffected by he paralysis these things inflict.  And the zombies simply keep coming.  Two, six, ten.  Will they ever stop?

Gib lays about, felling two zombies of his own. 

Atharis cannot seem to shake the alcohol enough to force a spell to form.

The stars of this fight are Ch'dau - and Kithran, who leaps from the stairs to stab a zombie deep in the back.  The kazari, meanwhile, makes quick work of every walker who dares approach.

Then, the giggler leaps and sinks its fangs into Gib.  The warrior priest can see the glee in the creature's eyes even as he feels the unholy cold grip his muscles.  The thing draws back a taloned hand, intent on driving the nails into the helpless priests's throat, but as the blow falls, it staggers for a moment before three hundred pounds of fur-covered muscle explode through it; Aranwen slashes it through the leg, and Ch'dau tackles the thing to the ground before rending it very nearly in two with one of his short blades. 

The zombies mindlessly press on pummeling Gib, but Aranwen and Kith are there to remove them, and soon, Ch'dau rejoins.  The fight lasts a few more bloody moments, but finally, comes to merciful end.

Fifteen zombies and one giggling monstrosity lie motionless around the common room of the Inn, though all but the mages suffer from various injuries.

The Inn falls silent as Gib regains the ability to move... but from somewhere outside, you can hear at least two more abombinations gigle to one another.