-----"Give 'em hell!" Runik says after watching everyone and then deciding to prepare his own heavy crossbow. "Blast!" he curses as his own shot fails to hit the ghastly thing on the platform.
-----The Dread Pirate curses fluently at the sight of the armored man retreating through the darkened doorway, "You bastard! You're running off with my knives! Get back here."
-----Dread then sidesteps the writhing figure in the greased area and takes a running leap, trying to jump across the enspelled area and chase after the knife-thieving man.
-----Seth looks at Krord and Brandel and then tells Runik, "You better follow the Captain! Brandel and I will look after Krord, tally the treasure and find a way to open the door!" He suddenly smacks his head and pulls off his backpack and begins to search through it. "If I still have a scroll of dispel magic, that might help Krord."
-----In a move that would truly inspire legions of seafarers, the Dread Pirate gains the platform and, after backing up, runs toward the crawling dead, the enspelled area and the open door. His feet come up off the floor just before hitting the slick area and, for a moment, it looks as though his parrot is carrying him aloft. The small bare bellied figure sails across causing the undead thing to give pause. The Dread Pirate then lands on his feet in the doorway where he vanishes with the sounds of his rapidly running feet echoing back.
-----The undead thing briefly loses its balance as it tries to follow the motion of the hurtling halfling. It flounders once again slobbering unmercifully.
-----Kazel looses another arrow at the foul thing and strikes it solidly in the chest area.
-----Seeing an opening, Runik goes to follow the Dread Pirate. The dwarf repeats what he saw the halfling do. He quickly gains the platform, backs off and runs as fast as he can at the opening. Runik lifts off the ground avoiding the undead, but lands short of the door. A great thud is heard as he crashes into the side of the door, but his momentum carries him into the dark on his rump. Cursing, Runik jumps up and heads off after the Dread Pirate.
-----Kazel pauses until the dwarf is out of the way before firing another arrow. Her second missile misses the thrashing target.
-----Brandel follows with two arrows of his own. The first one misses but the second arrow impales itself in the monster's left eye. This slows its movement greatly as its arms now struggle to pull itself out of the mess.
-----By this time, Seth has his scroll pulled from his backpack.
-----"Keep the skull helm too," Kazel says to those remaining behind as she quickly follows Dread into the passage, remembering to look down to avoid the caltrops, of course.
-----As Kazel vanishes down the dark corridor, Seth watches Brandel approach the last undead thing. Suddenly it springs forth from the greased area and launches itself at the wide-eyed mercenary.
-----Brandel's face twists up as if smelling something horrible. Quickly he draws his sword and swings weakly as if his strength is leaving him. His black long sword cleaves right through the undead thing's neck sending its head to drop at the feet of the paralyzed huge Krord.
-----Quickly Brandel looks around as if anticipating more trouble. Seeing none, he stands catching his breath and looks at Seth.
-----The fire in the webbing by now has died down apparently consuming the last of the zombies. Everything seems quiet except for the noise down the darkened corridor the others left through. A sickening smell of burning decayed flesh hangs in the air.
-----Seth looks at his useless scroll and then at Krord, "I guess we just need to sit this one out Brandel." He moves over to the heap of treasure and begins sorting and cataloging it. He asks Brandel, "Can you collect the spent bolts, arrows and knives and, if you can, check the bodies?"
-----"Yes," Brandel says, his breathing finally slowing. The young man still shows signs of his injuries and bleeding cuts. "First, let me check on . . . KRORD!" Brandel's last word is shouted as he looks at the huge mercenary.
-----Turning, Seth sees Krord's body begin to relax. Brandel runs over to him grinning. "So, you have decided to join us again?" the young mercenary jokes as he pats the large one's arm. "Thought you might sit this one out since there weren't any ogres for you to put down?"
-----The half-orc smiles as control of his facilities return to him. He then looks down taking in the wretched condition of his human friend. He places one arm around Brandel and holds him close, a tear streaming from his eye.
-----"Here now," Brandel says almost smothered in the embrace, "I will be fine. Help me clear away this mess so our employer can check over this treasure."