DM Kaavek’s Scales of War (Inactive)

Game Master Kaavek

Well, that wasn't good. Dayana lurches back in shock, blinking rapidly, and scrambles to reach for her bow, grasping an arrow to nock against the string before drawing it back, aiming for the horrific yellow ghost that had just been in her face.

Longbow Attack at Ectoplasmic Human (Yellow): 1d20 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 - 2 = 16
Longbow Damage: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Critical Confirm?: 1d20 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 - 2 = 15
Critical Additional Damage: 2d8 - 2 ⇒ (8, 8) - 2 = 14

It is apparently somewhat effective.

So that just happened. Five Foot Step out of melee, draw longbow as a Move action, and attack as a Standard.

Too close for an arrow, Jathal drops her bow and draws her curveblade, slashing at the thing in front of her.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

She then runs away and hides behind the Divine casters.

Knowledge:religion to ID undead: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Aelion snapped off two shots even as the scream began, the situation becoming chaos around him.

Target is the floating head.

shortbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
shortbow dmg 1: 1d6 ⇒ 2

shortbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
shortbow dmg 2: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Unnerved by the unnatural spectacle despite himself, and with the undead closing in, he was unable to strike.

Fear gripped Cecilia like an iron vice. The priest's screams reverberated inside of her, the sound alone enough to still her heart and halt her lungs. The bard had heard tales of rotting corpses and mournful ghosts, but nothing could have prepared her for what they now faced. It was all too visceral. Too real.

But while her first thought was to flee from these terrifying spirits, Cecilia knew that running was not an option. She would never be considered a hero of legend if she ran at the first sign of danger. And so the bard adjusted her broad-brimmed hat, shook out her cape, readied her rapier, and forced herself to a adopt a crooked grin.

"En Garde!" She called out, stabbing at the nearest of the slime-covered humanoids outlines, summoning a fraction of her arcane power to enhance her attack.

Attack Roll Vs Ectoplasmic Human (Green): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

But despite her brave words, Cecilia's technique was lacking and her mind was still unfocused. Her rapier didn't even come close to scratching the acolyte in front of her.

Free Action: 5-Foot Step , Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Standard Action: Attack Ectoplasmic Human (Green) with Rapier

COMBAT ROUND 2
Battle Map

The goblin does its best to protect itself while its hands are bound, stepping back beside Zalindra and curling up into a ball at her feet.

While much of the group trembles in fear, Dayana sends an arrow through the dripping skull of the nearest acolyte, ripping the semi-corporeal head from the ectoplasmic creature’s body and pinning it to the shimmering tapestry behind it.

Aelion also manages to do some damage, stopping the priest’s screaming with a well placed shot through the rotting head’s mouth.

Ingra and Kra’el, the last to enter the room, do not let the party down, as Ingra makes a mighty swing with her greatsword, slashing the purple glowing acolyte in two before Kra’el steps forward and swings his sword right through the blue ghost’s horrific visage.

Jathal takes up a position behind the two heroic warriors as the acolyte dripping with green goo makes a poor attempt to counter Cecilia, and the beheaded priest launches itself at the dragonborn, its teeth clattering noiselessly against the arrow lodged in the back of its throat.

Active Effects:
The light from the tapestry provides dim light within 5 ft. The rest of the chamber is in darkness.

Jathal is shaken for 2 rounds. Cecilia and the Goblin are shaken for 3 rounds.

Shaking off her fear, Zalindra decides that she is going to set fire to the tapestry after all, and spends this round lighting a torch so she can do just that.

Seeing Zalindra light a torch, Cecilia immediately knew her ally's intentions. Sidestepping her foe, she attempted to strike down the nearest one of these... things, and clear a path.

Attack Roll Vs Ectoplasmic Human (Green): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Unfortunately the bard made the mistake of looking into the twisted face of her enemy as she attacked. The horrible oozing monstrosity seemed to stare into her very soul. Still somewhat rattled by the screaming just a few moments before, Cecilia failed to hit her foe.

Free Action: 5-Foot Step , Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Standard Action: Attack Ectoplasmic Human (Green) with Rapier

Griiting her teeth and trying to ignore her watery bones Jathal moves to attack the head while it's choking on Aelion's arrow.

Attack - shaken: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 2 = 3 Well s&+%!.

Dayana puffs out a harsh exhale and drops her bow to the ground with all the enemies moved into melee. A pair of deft strides are taken to come around to Celia's side, the changeling flexing her fingers only slightly before swiping her sharp nails towards the ectoplasmic creature.

Attack, Claw 1: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Attack, Claw 2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

— Yet she is perhaps not entirely so eager to truly touch the creature, as neither swipe connects.

Five-foot step, then unsucessful full attack on Ectoplasmic Human (Green)

Having surprised himself twice (once by striking when he thought he'd missed, and again at his own assumptions), Aelion paused a moment to look around before firing again. Almost everyone, it seemed, was as unnerved as he at the apparitions that had poured out of the accursed tapestry... but by the goblin's reaction, it hadn't led them into this mess deliberately.

Only then did he taste the metallic rage at the back of his throat. *This isn't another ambush. Take it easy, Aelion.*

Satisfied, Aelion aimed at the flying head again, hoping that it was central to the haunting and getting rid of it would banish these ichor-dripping ghosts.

shortbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
shortbow dmg 1: 1d6 ⇒ 2

shortbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
shortbow dmg 2: 1d6 ⇒ 6

This time, his hands were more steady. He let a breath out through his nose, trying to find equilibrium once more.

COMBAT ROUND 3
Battle Map

As Zalindra prepares to burn the haunted tapestry, Aelion senda another arrow through the disembodied head of the priest. The eerie whispers come to a sudden stop as the head disappears in a flash of blue light.

Seeing that the ghostly green figure is still standing, Aelion sends his second arrow flying towards the slimy creature. But the projectile seems to pass right through the strands of goo without much effect.

The group’s resident paladin quickly closes with the undead and swings his longsword, but fails to connect.

The undead creature attempts to retaliate but is equally unlucky with its attack and is left surrounded as Ingra runs across the dim chamber to box it in.

Active Effects:
The light from the tapestry provides dim light within 5 ft. The rest of the chamber is in darkness.

Jathal is shaken for 1 rounds. Cecilia and the Goblin are shaken for 2 rounds.

Now with a lit torch, Zalindra slips around her friends (keeping out of the way of the bad guy) and approaches the tapestry on the other side of Cecilia. Then, avoiding looking at the monstrosity, she leans in to set the edge of it on fire.

Determined to redeem herself, Cecilia lunged towards the last remaining monster.

Attack Roll Vs Ectoplasmic Human (Green): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage Roll: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

With a great deal of satisfaction the bard plunged her rapier into the walking pile of goo, using her magic to amplify the force of the blow.

It was difficult to tell just how much damage her weapon had inflicted, but considering how badly her hands had been shaking, Cecilia was just happy she had actually hit something. Not wanting to be too close to the fire Zalindra was starting, the bard ripped her rapier free of her enemy's body before taking several steps back.

(Conditions - Shaken) Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Standard Action: Attack Ectoplasmic Human (Green) with Rapier , Free Action: 5-Foot Step

The changeling flares her nostrils in distaste and once again slashes her claws towards the ectoplasmic creature.

Claw 1: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8
Claw 2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

She frowns.

Jathal is not enjoying this, but grits her teeth and gets between Zalindra and the last horror.

Attack - shaken: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2

Surprise!

The shot was tricky. Kra'el stood in the way, and all around, the rest of the party crowded in.

But when better to take a shot, if you were Tiri Kitor? Masters of the bow, their skill manifested through him. At the very least, he had to try.

shortbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
shortbow dmg 1: 1d6 ⇒ 6

shortbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
shortbow dmg 2: 1d6 ⇒ 2

COMBAT ROUND 4
Battle Map

Cecilia plunges her rapier through the ectoplasmic acolyte, a blast of arcane force sending some of the green goo splashing back across Dayana as the witch unsuccessfully claws at the ghost.

Aelion sends an arrow flying under Kra’el’s arm and through the torso of the undead foe as the dragonborn lifts his sword high, bringing it down through the acolyte’s neck and banishing it once more from the mortal plane.

As the group breathes a sigh of relief, flames lick the front cursed tapestry and begin to remove its unnatural energies from the dark chamber.

Combat over.

The goblin appears to regain some of its composure as the threat of the “scary place” is dealt with. It moves to the western door and indicates for the group to head through.
“Сіз батыл, ақылсыз діни қызметкерді өлтіресіз. Жақсы жаңалықтар, қазір торға жақын. Тек солтүстіктен крипт арқылы бас. Жаман жаңалықтар, криттің аш достарына толы, жеуге болмайды!” it snickers.

Active Effects:
The light from the burning tapestry provides normal light within 30 ft.

Cecilia and the Goblin are shaken for 1 round.

For a few moments Cecilia just stood there with her hands on her knees and her eyes fixed on the floor. Taking a deep breath, the bard was once again back in control of the situation.

"Well that was... interesting." Cecilia said, using a Prestidigitation spell to clean off any ectoplasmic goo that might have fallen upon her weapon or her clothing. The bard then spent a moment listening for the sound of goblins waking up, concerned that their skirmish might have woken the sleeping children just down the hall.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

She listened carefully, moving away from the now burning tapestry.

(Conditions - Shaken) Assuming that Cecilia hears nothing that alarms her, she will proceed alongside the rest of the party, casting Dancing Lights if she needs illumination.

He says that there are "hungry friends" to the North, but that we are close to the cages. He warns us to not get eaten. I'm asking follow up questions.

She doesn't think there are traps on the door because goblins have been using it, but moves over and checks just in case.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Zalindra finds no locks or traps on the door, just a simple iron latch holds it closed.

Cecilia thinks she can hear the sound of the young goblins stirring, but it doesn't sound like any are moving to investigate the sounds of the fight.

The captive goblin turns to Zalindra.
"Менің атым Паальд. Достар сиқырдағы торларды қорғайды, бірақ шырмауықта тым ұзақ қалады, миға ашыды. Олар енді гоблиндермен бірге тұра алмайды, қазір аштық сезінеді. Мен Янпенді көп сағынамын."

Indicating the goblin, Zalindra says

Paald here says that the goblins that are guarding the prisoners have stayed too long with the undead and start turning hungry for brains. Sounds like Zombie Goblins to me... so, let's be careful.

Zalindra is getting more worried for her grandfather knowing there are what sounds like zombies around, but she focuses on the task in front of her, hoping she will see him soon.

She opens the door and proceeds in the direction that Paald indicated.

"It's a wonder any of them are still alive." Cecilia remarks. She moves forward, still holding her rapier, leaving the tapestry to burn.

She walks alongside Zalindra, ready for more danger.

Dayana takes a step back to scoop up her dropped bow before following after the others. "With any luck, they are still alive," she replies to Cecilia in a quiet voice.

Jathal collects her dropped bow and follows with others, she's never fought undead before. "If they are Zombies do they require special tactics?" She asks before they leave the room.

"Yeah, don't get bitten, they carry a pretty nasty fever. Sometimes just getting too near them as you cut them up can be enough to catch it too." Ingra says to the elf as she and Kra'el follow the others through the doorway.
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

The corridor between the tapestry chamber and the next room features a dust-covered fresco on the western wall, depicting a collection of human knights riding pegasi into the clouds. The scene plays out in the flickering light of the flames opposite an inscription along the eastern wall, legible in the dim light to those with keener eyes.

"Hail Von Urstadts! Ascend with Glory!"

~~~

~~~

As the group rounds the corner, and the light from the burning tapestry fades, they find themselves in pitch darkness. The musty smell of dusty bones and stale incense hangs in the air.

Zalindra still has the lit torch that she used to burn the tapestry, so there should be some light.

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

She shares some historical information with the group with regard to the tapestry when they see it:

"The Von Urstadts were a prominent family in the region to the north-east of Brindol during the days before the fall of Rhest. The family were beholden to Lord Rivenroar, and several of their best knights served in the Lord's retinue."

She stops speaking there, embarrassed, knowing that she sounds like a museum curator, and that they need to focus on finding the captives from the town.

Zalindra holds her torch high shedding light across the room ahead.
Alcoves line the north and the south walls of the Von Urstadt crypt, holding the burial nooks of five knights.

In the far corner, a door leads north, there is also an archway leading further east, directly across from the corridor you stand in now.

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Cecilia wasn't as knowledgeable about the history of Rhest as she was about the history of Brindol. But Zalindra seemed to have a good understanding of the subject, so the bard deferred to her companion's expertise.

"So these men were all part of a royal order of knights?" Cecilia asked, moving over to examine the nearest sarcophagus. Casting a Dancing Lights spell to give herself some extra illumination, she ran her hand along the dusty stone surface. It seemed somewhat sad to her. These men had probably won many glorious victories for their lord, but now they were here, rotting away in some hole, far from the eyes of the world.

The bard spent a few moments checking the crypt, searching for any titles, crests, or other inscriptions. Committing everything she saw to memory, Cecilia decided she would try to investigate the deeds of these knights once they were back in the city.

If there was a tale to be told of such men, then she would be the one to tell it.

"Sorry. Now isn't really the time to be dawdling is it?" The bard asked, having almost forgotten the urgency of their mission. Bringing the glowing orbs of light forward, Cecilia moved over to the doorway leading north. Standing at what she considered a safe distance, she began casting a spell of Open/Close on the door, her rapier ready for whatever might emerge.

As the door swings open, it reveals a gaunt man standing guard in the corridor beyond. His palid flesh is stretched tightly over his starved frame and he snarls at Cecilia, revealing a row of long, needle-like teeth. Behind him, two small goblins drag their feet toward the now open doors, their glossy eyes shining in the brightness of the bard's arcane light.

~~~

Initiative Order: Undead, Party, Paald

COMBAT ROUND 1
Battle Map

As soon as the man beyond the crypt doors has caught a whiff of Cecilia, he rushes forward, immediately attempting to bite into the bard's neck.
Cecilia can take her readied attack action at the charging ghoul (AC 12).

The two undead goblin guards behind him shamble forwards toward the rest of the group, as another two stagger around the corner through the archway on the far side, drawn in by the hungry groans of their comrades.

Ingra rushes up beside Cecilia and delivers a mighty cut to the ghoul's left flank, while Kra'el lops off the sickly green goblin's right arm with a great swing of his longsword.

The rest of the party is up.

Active Effects:
The light from the Cecilia’s Dancing Lights spell bathes the crypt in in bright light.

Jathal shudders at the stench of undead, too close for her bow she wields her curve blade and attempts to end the Goblin closest to her.

Taking a 5' step to place it between herself and Dayana.

Flanking?

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage?: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Remind me to complain to our host. I certainly didn't order any undead!" She proclaims, trying to lift her spirits with some humor.

Finding herself in melee, Zalindra draws her rapier and attacks one of the zombies in front of her Red.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

She misses, probably because she was trying to juggle her torch and her rapier at the same time. She takes a breath to calm herself, determined to make her next attack count.

Dayana frowns. Why'd it have to be undead today? She flexes her fingers and sets to swiping her unnaturally sharp nails at the green one.

Claw 1: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Claw 2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Claw 2 confirm: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Claw 1 Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
Claw 2 Damage: 2d4 - 2 ⇒ (3, 3) - 2 = 4

Why does the character with a negative strength modifier keep threatening and confirming criticals? And why can't one of my martials do that instead?

I wasn't really being serious about Cecilia readying an action, but I'll take it :P

Cecilia was caught off-guard but not entirely unprepared by the onslaught of undead. Raising her rapier, she stabbed at the hideous monster as it charged at her.

Attack Roll Vs Ghoul: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Unfortunately the corpse's almost skeletal frame worked in its favour here, the bard's blade harmlessly bouncing off of the creature's ribcage. Undeterred, Cecilia advanced forward, standing side by side with Zalindra, already moving to attack again.

(Readied) Standard Action: Attack with Rapier against Ghoul , Free Action: 5-Foot Step

COMBAT ROUND 2
Battle Map

Jathal takes a swipe at the nearest goblin, fortunately just missing Paald’s neck as the group’s guide ducks in shock.

”Сіз мені өлтірмейтіндігіңізді айттыңыз!”

Dayana, less afraid to get her nails dirty this time around, tears the rotting green flesh of the goblin in front of her from it’s tiny bones until there’s nearly nothing left and the unfortunate beast falls to the ground.

Aelion sends a flurry of arrows into the melee, grazing the bruised, purple flesh of the zombie approaching Ingra, managing to distract it enough that it cannot land a blow on the dwarf. Unfortunately, she has no such luck fending off an attack from the jaundiced goblin lunging at her from the north-east, and she winds up with a painful looking bite (5 Damage).

Kra’el nearly manages to put down the red-eyed zombie threatening Zalindra and Cecilia with a single cut while Ingra fails to land a hit on the ghoul in the center of the conflict.

Active Effects:
The light from the Cecilia’s Dancing Lights spell bathes the crypt in in bright light.

Zalindra, hearing Paald's scream at being attacked, turns around in shock and rushes into the same space as her little friend, trying to protect him with her body.

(Also triggering an AOO from the red-dot zombie she was next to.) ... These roll20 maps won't let me bring her pic to the front or add notes on the screen, but she is in the same space as Paald, protecting him.

Ok, I thought I was attacking one of the Undead goblins. My bad.

Said with absolutely no sincerity whatsoever. :)

Jathal blinks in surprise as she realizes that the Goblin was the live one? She shrugs and steps around him, going for the Red Goblin instead.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

It doesn't really matter anyway, it's not like she would have hit him. :(

Cecilia heard a commotion from somewhere behind her, but was unable to spare a moment to see what was happening. All of her attention was currently focused on the enemy in front of her.

Her green eyes narrowing, the bard stepped to the side. In her hands her rapier was quick and deadly, and with it she attempted to once again strike down the thin and sickly corpse that opposed her.

Attack Roll Vs Ghoul: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage Roll Vs Ghoul: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

With a yell Cecilia plunged her blade into the head of the undead monster. Ripping her weapon free, the thing collapsed onto the cold stone floor just a few seconds later.

Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Free Action: 5-Foot Step , Standard Action: Attack Ghoul with Rapier

Grimacing at the disgusting feeling of rotten flesh and congealed blood on her fingers and beneath her nails, Dayana presses forth past Jathal to try and finish off the red zombie.

Claw, Single Attack: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Not quite as lucky this time, it would seem.

Move up 10'. Standard: Attack.

Once the threat to Paald is no longer immediate, Zalindra tells him to run away while everyone is distracted so he doesn’t get hurt.

COMBAT ROUND 3
Battle Map

The red-eyed zombie catches Zalindra with a swipe of it’s jagged nails (2 Damage) as the rogue moves to protect her prisoner, Paald, who dutifully scurries away from the combat as soon as he can. Aelion sends a flurry of arrows towards the goblin’s former allies, but fails to hit any targets.

The zombified goblins lash out in retaliation as their ghoulish leader falls, and the red-eyed one manages to take an impressive bite out of Kra’el’s leg (4 Damage).

Kra’el and Ingra do their best to counter the goblin’s assault, but none can land a blow on their small, rotten foes.

Active Effects:
The light from the Cecilia’s Dancing Lights spell bathes the crypt in in bright light.

Annoyed at her mistake and the reactions of others Jathal takes it out on the Red Goblin.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Sidestepping once again, Cecilia attempted to bring down one of the undead goblins that had staggered out of the eastern corridor.

Attack Roll Vs Undead Goblin (Yellow): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

But the corpse was faster than she expected, and quickly lurched out of the way of her rapier.

Free Action: 5-Foot Step , Standard Action: Attack Undead Goblin (Yellow) with Rapier

Not intent on giving up, Dayana steps into a position across from Kra'el before setting into the zombie. If she just keeps trying...

Claw 1, Flanking: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 2 = 3
Claw 2, Flanking: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) - 1 + 2 = 12

Five-Foot Step, Full Attack on Red

After Paald runs off, Zalindra moves and attacks again, but with her bow this time. (red)

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Shaking off the feeling of disgust and dread he felt when seeing the undead abominations, Aelion fired again at one of the goblins (yellow), determined to destroy the unnatural monstrosities.

It was bad enough when they were alive.

shortbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
shortbow dmg 1: 1d6 ⇒ 2

shortbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
shortbow dmg 2: 1d6 ⇒ 5

...But, in trying to keep an eye on Paald, his suspicion backfired by distracting him from the true threat, and his arrows cracked harmlessly against the walls.

Aelion hissed. "Get a grip," he ordered himself, already feeling the shame of his substandard archery so far. Some emissary he made! He had to admit, he was more shaken than he had thought. He glanced at Jathal; hopefully she wouldn't tell the Council of his terrible lack of concentration. Her skill was much more up to the standards of the Tiri Kitor.

COMBAT ROUND 4
Battle Map

Jathal does her best to take down the red-eyed goblin but her arrow can’t pierce the undead guard’s armour. Luckily for her, Kra’el’s blade manages to hack through the creature’s skull, but not before it leaps up and tears a huge chunk of flesh from the dragonborn’s neck (7 Damage).

Kra’el retreats from the fight as Ingra saves her face from the gnashing teeth of the bruised purple zombie, but only by sacrificing a chunk of her forearm (5 damage). Wincing in pain, the dwarf also steps back from the unyielding undead assault.

Active Effects:
The light from the Cecilia’s Dancing Lights spell bathes the crypt in in bright light.

Slowly, but surely, the group seems to be working through the group of undead. That is sufficient to keep Dayana pressing her assault, turning to the yellow zombie now.

Claw 1: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
Claw 2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Jathal makes Purple her Studied target.

Taking aim she shot at him.
Attack + Studied Target + PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 9

Wow.