DM Talomyr's Serpent's Skull (Inactive)

Game Master Talomyr

The cause of the footsteps reveals itself, a skeleton, clad in red leather armor stands in a battle-ready pose, its jagged bladed weapons held in a cross as cold blue light shines in its eye sockets.

The skeleton is at the top of the steps. Obviously hostile, I will consider that a trigger for Adara's readied action. I will also pause to give Lawdrak and Sharpmaw to come out of delay prior to taking the eurypterids actions.

Know/rel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Lawdrak mutters, "Do ANY dead stay lying down on this da#$%d island?" as he hurls a slingstone at the emerging skeleton.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sharpmaw moves forward, waiting to intercept any of the arthropods that come toward them.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Be careful! This is no mindless undead. It was made to remember what it used to know."

Adara hurls the javelin at the sight of the angry undead, its eyes blazing with hatred for the living.

javelin: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

The javelin embeds itself in the rotting wood of the stair opening.

As least as eager to get away from the skeleton as attack you, the eurypterids surge toward you, only two get close enough to lash out at Hana and Sharpmaw with their stingers, but neither strike finds its mark.

Initiative Order:
Adara - done
Skeletal Champion - done
Lawdrak & Sharpmaw - done
Eurypterids - done
Dereje
Hana
Estiete

Dereje, Hana, and Estietre are up in Round 1. Adara may make her Round 2 action.

DM Talomyr: Are any of the terrain details on the map actually obstructing or difficult terrain? I think I have an idea of an action, but I'm unclear if Adara could actually stand in the square I added the yellow dot.

Nothing stopping you from occupying that square. Other than the sides of the boat, there is nothing to really impede your progress around the deck.

Estietre mutters an arcane phrase as she clenches and releases her fist until a ball of mud materializes. She hurls it in the face of the second eurypterid before stepping behind Hana.

ranged touch Mudball vs green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Round 2

Adara moves closer to Sharpmaw and releases a blast of fire in the faces of two of the eurypterids (Blue and Green).

Adara casts burning hands.

burning hands: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5
Burning magic rounds, if save failed: 1d4 ⇒ 3
1 damage per round

School evocation [fire]; Level sorcerer/wizard 1

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes
A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips. Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action.

If the eurypterids fail the save, they are subject to Adara's Burning Magic Oracle Revelation.

Burning Magic (Su): Whenever a creature fails a saving throw and takes fire damage from one of your spells, it catches on fire. This fire deals 1 point of fire damage per spell level at the beginning of the burning creature's turn. The fire lasts for 1d4 rounds, but it can be extinguished as a move action if the creature succeeds at a Reflex save (using the spell's DC). Dousing the creature with water as a standard action grants a +2 bonus on this save, while immersing the creature in water automatically extinguishes the fire. Spells that do not grant a save do not cause a creature to catch on fire.

"It is no surprise that the dead cannot find rest, on an island as perilous as this one," Dereje remarks somberly, staring at the skeleton with some degree of pity. Naturally, it would have to be destroyed. But first, they had to dispose of the vermin.

The paladin moves forward with his sword drawn, and strikes one of the eurypterids with a swift, well-aimed chop.

Cutlass Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Confirmation?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Hana slides slightly to make sure the euryptid near Adara can't close on the oracle (5' step) as she draws and strikes at it.

Katana attack vs. blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Wifffff

Estietre slings a ball of mud into one the sea scorpion's faces, blinding it.

Dereje steps up and lops one of the aquatic vermin in half, while Hana swings wide of her target.

Adara moves into position and unleashes a gout of flame. After a series of hisses and pops, two more of the eurypterids are no more.

The skeleton marches toward the party, seething with hatred for the living.

Skeleton double moves. Lawdrak and Sharpmaw are up

Lawdrak moves forward and slings a stone at the skeleton.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

At Lawdrak's signal to attack, Sharpmaw circles the skeleton, looking for an opening to bite at the back of the thing's legs.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
b/p/s damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Lawdrak hurls a stone at the skeleton but his shot is well wide of the surprisingly nimble undead. Sharpmaw on the other hand is able to latch onto the unholy creature's leg, only its armor saving the bone from being splintered completely.

The sea scorpions continue to move around deck, attempting to sting various targets, including the skeleton, as they move around.

One particularly brave, or perhaps foolhardy, sea scorpion steps in closer to Sharpmaw, snapping at the dinosaur with claws as well its stinger.

All the movement and sting attempts seem to be little more than an annoyance as nothing really lands except one stinger on Sharpmaw.

Sharpmaw takes 1 non-lethal damage. Sharpmaw needs to make a DC 10 Fort Save or take 1 Dex damage as well.

Dereje, Hana, and Estietre are up in Round 2. Adara may make her Round 3 action.

Round 3

Seeing the approach of the undead full of hate, Adara turns to it.

"You need not be filled with hate. Allow us to help you reach the court of the Lady of Graves."

Adara whispers praise to Sarenrae in Ignan while make several signs with one hand. One of the skeleton's weapons glows white hot.

Adara casts burning disarm DC 14 Reflex if the skeleton wishes to drop the weapon to avoid the damage, otherwise no save.

burning disarm: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
Burning magic rounds, if save failed: 1d4 ⇒ 1
1 damage per round

School transmutation [fire]; Level cleric/oracle 1, druid 1, sorcerer/wizard 1

CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S

EFFECT
Range Short (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target Held metal item of one creature or 15 lbs. of unattended metal
Duration Instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex negates (object, see text); Spell Resistance Yes (object)

DESCRIPTION
This spell causes a metal object to instantly become red hot. A creature holding the item may attempt a Reflex save to drop it and take no damage (even if it is not their turn), otherwise the hot metal deals 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Circumstances that prevent the creature from dropping the item (such as a locked gauntlet) mean the creature gets no saving throw. The heat does not harm the item, and it does not get hot enough or last long enough to ignite flammable objects. The item cools to its previous temperature almost instantly. If cast underwater, burning disarm deals half damage and boils the surrounding water.

If the skeleton fails the save, he is subject to Adara's Burning Magic Oracle Revelation.

Burning Magic (Su): Whenever a creature fails a saving throw and takes fire damage from one of your spells, it catches on fire. This fire deals 1 point of fire damage per spell level at the beginning of the burning creature's turn. The fire lasts for 1d4 rounds, but it can be extinguished as a move action if the creature succeeds at a Reflex save (using the spell's DC). Dousing the creature with water as a standard action grants a +2 bonus on this save, while immersing the creature in water automatically extinguishes the fire. Spells that do not grant a save do not cause a creature to catch on fire.

Seeing a lane of combat open, Hana recklessly charges the undead!

"Watashi wa aruite shinde osorete inai!" she shouts as she rushes across the creaking deck.

Charge attack! Challenge!

Katana charge: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Katana damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

From challenging the undead, I gain +1 damage against it, DR 1/- against its attacks, and a -2 penalty to my AC from any other attackers (not the undead).

Estietre moves up by Dereje, and fires a minor ray of cold at the eurypterid behind Sharpmaw.

ray of frost vs foe in melee: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

With the eurypterid out of his way, Dereje draws his pistol and lines up his shot, all the while murmuring a prayer to Abadar. He was running low on bullets, but he would do whatever it takes to vanquish the damnable living dead.

Spending 1 grit to fire a smiting shot at the skeleton.
Ranged Touch Attack (Into Melee, Point Blank Shot): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 2 = 23
Damage (Point Blank Shot, Smiting Shot vs. Undead): 1d8 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 6 = 9

Mum tags another of the sea scorpions, wounding it badly, but yet the creature lives.

Adara heats the skeleton's blades with her spell, but it refuses to relinquish the blades. Hana charges at the unholy creature landing a solid strike but razor sharp blade does not seem to do as much damage as she would have hoped. Dereje's shot from his pistol on the other hand blasts a hole in skeleton's rib cage.

Not for lack of any effort on the party's art, the skeleton remains standing. Taking a step to flank Hana with one of the sea scorpions, the skeleton cuts at Hana with two quick slashes, cuts the samurai-ko down, despite her defenses.

Ouch...Hana, I apologize. Hana takes 19 damage and 2 bleed!

Lawdrak and Sharpmaw are up.

IIIII'm gonna spend Resolve on that!

Seems like a solid idea.

fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The stinger's impact, though heavy, fails to penetrate Sharpmaw's scaly hide enough to deliver it venom, and the dinosaur ignores the arthropod to focus on the undead.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Lawdrak, seeing Hana fall, backs away and weaves his way through allies and foes to reach the fallen samurai.

watching the skeleton and euryptids carefully, he attempts to heal his comrade.

Ok, I think I can get to my new spot on the map only provoking from purple when I leave - they have reach, right?

Once I get there, cast defensively to lay a CLW on Hana.

concentration DC 17: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Really? Sorry, Hana, I tried...

Yes, the scorpions have reach with their stingers. Only purple will get an AoO.

Sharpmaw chomps at the skeleton but fails to make contact while Lawdrak carefully moves to aid the grievously wounded samurai-ko, but is too distracted by a sea scorpion attempting to sting him to do so effectively.

The sea scorpions continue to move about the deck stinging and clawing at Lawdrak, Sharpmaw, and Hana. The young Kellid takes the worst of it, being stung twice and pinched by a claw. Sharpmaw is clipped by a claw as well. Perhaps the most unfortunate is Hana, after just barely surviving the assault by the skeleton, she suffers a claw strike from behind by one of the scorpions.

Lawdrak takes 2 damage and 1 non-lethal damage. Please make two DC 10 Fort Saves or take 1 Dex damage. Failure of both saves will not cause 2 Dex damage, but will increase the DC to 12 for subsequent rounds. Sharpmaw takes 1 non-lethal damage. Hana takes 1 non-lethal damage and falls unconscious.

Dereje, Hana (Unconscious but stable), and Estietre are up in Round 3. Adara may make her Round 4 action.

fort1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Round 4

Adara steps next to Lawdrak.

"You need not trouble us further, vermin."

Adara summons more eurypterid roasting flame. Spell on Purple and Yellow.

Adara casts burning hands.

burning hands, DC 14 Reflex: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Burning magic rounds, if save failed: 1d4 ⇒ 2
1 damage per round

School evocation [fire]; Level sorcerer/wizard 1

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range 15 ft.
Area cone-shaped burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes
A cone of searing flame shoots from your fingertips. Any creature in the area of the flames takes 1d4 points of fire damage per caster level (maximum 5d4). Flammable materials burn if the flames touch them. A character can extinguish burning items as a full-round action.

If the eurypterids fail the save, they are subject to Adara's Burning Magic Oracle Revelation.

Burning Magic (Su): Whenever a creature fails a saving throw and takes fire damage from one of your spells, it catches on fire. This fire deals 1 point of fire damage per spell level at the beginning of the burning creature's turn. The fire lasts for 1d4 rounds, but it can be extinguished as a move action if the creature succeeds at a Reflex save (using the spell's DC). Dousing the creature with water as a standard action grants a +2 bonus on this save, while immersing the creature in water automatically extinguishes the fire. Spells that do not grant a save do not cause a creature to catch on fire.

Estietre turns her finger toward the skeleton.

disrupt undead: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5

Dereje drops his cutlass, well aware of the fact that its delicate blade would have difficulty cutting through solid bone. Instead he hurriedly reloads his pistol and fires another point-blank shot at the skeleton.

Ranged Touch Attack (Into Melee): 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 4 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Perhaps startled by the rapid nature of Hana's fall, Estietre and Dereje both miss their intended target.

Adara unleashes a gout of fire, engulfing two of the remaining sea scorpions. One dies instantly, while the other is gravely wounded.

Having dispatched the samurai-ko, the skeleton steps forward, intent on doing the same to the Kellid youth. Again with two lightning quick slashes, another member of the party falls to the unholy creature.

Lawdrak takes 16 damage and 1 bleed!

Lawdrak (unconscious) and Sharpmaw are up.

From the SRD:haracters taking continuous damage, such as from an acid arrow or a bleed effect, automatically fail all Constitution checks made to stabilize. Such characters lose 1 hit point per round in addition to the continuous damage.

-2hp. Now at -3 on CON 12.

Sharpmaw steps in, biting.

bit on skel with flank: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Lawdrak begins to bleed out on the ship's deck while Sharpmaw manages to take another bite out of the skeleton, but the undead assassin still remains.

The sea scorpion still continue to swarm the party, claws and stingers flailing around. One stinger manages to find Sharpmaw, while a claw finds an opening in Adara's armor.

Sharpmaw takes 1 non-lethal and needs to make a DC 10 Fort Save or take 1 Dex damage. Adara take 1 damage.

Dereje, Hana (Unconscious but stable), and Estietre are up in Round 4. Adara may make her Round 5 action.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Hana is also taking bleed so she's not stable. 2 bleed from the initial crit.

I assumed that your resolve had stabilized you. (The bleed was from the a bleeding attack sneak attack and should have only been 1)

I don't think so, just lets me stay up while I would otherwise be disabled. The bleed would've knocked me down if the nonlethal hit hadn't.

I don't think so, just lets me stay up while I would otherwise be disabled. The bleed would've knocked me down if the nonlethal hit hadn't.

From Resolve - Unstoppable: When the samurai is reduced to fewer than 0 hit points but not slain, he can spend one use of his resolve as an immediate action to instantly stabilize and remain conscious. He is staggered, but he does not fall unconscious and begin dying if he takes a standard action. He does fall unconscious if he takes additional damage from any source.

I'm willing to call it stabilized.

Yeah, normally the stabilization gets cancelled because the bleed isn't treated by it so on the next turn the bleed damage overcomes the resolve. Regardless! Moving on!

disrupt undead ranged vs touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 3 - 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Mum steps back and fires another ray toward the skeleton.
A second ally falling brings concern and focus. She speaks with haste.
"Adara, Dereje... you know undead.. Why is this skeleton more dangerous than others I've seen?"

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"I cannot say," Dereje answers with frustration, struggling to keep his calm under their present circumstances. He quickly reloads and squeezes off another, less-than-impressive shot.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Estietre misses the mark, but Dereje finds his, blasting another hole into the skeleton's armor.

Adara is up.

Adara steps lightly past Lawdrak and the eurypterid with the purplish tinge to its shell and summons healing flame while keeping an eye on the arthropod. She lets the fire wash over Lawdrak's still form.

Defensive casting v DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Adara sidesteps away from the skeleton and heals Lawdrak, stopping the young Kellid's bleeding and bringing him back to consciousness. The skeleton steps toward Dereje cutting into the paladin with two quick strikes.

Dereje takes 11 damage (and is very happy the skeleton didn't have a flank this round.

Lawdrak (prone) and Sharpmaw are up.

With the attention of the undead on Dejere, Lawdrak slips to her left and bites again.
five foot step

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Cast defensively

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

CLW on Hana:

1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Lawdrak's eyes flutter open after being healed by Adara, noticing that Hana is still down he casts a healing spell on the fallen samurai-ko.

Sharpmaw moves in trying to bite the skeleton yet again, but comes up with little more than air.

The remaining sea scorpions are a flurry of claws and stingers with a stinger finding Sharpmaw's leg, while a claw finds an unarmored spot on Adara.

Sharpmaw take 1 non-lethal and needs to make a DC 10 Fort Save or take 1 Dex damage. Adara takes 1 damage.

Dereje, Hana (Conscious but prone), and Estietre are up in Round 5. Adara may make her Round 6 action.

Adara steps over the yellow tinged sea scorpion and once again lets healing fire surge forth over Hana's badly injured form.

CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

And I'm out of healing. Let's hope these things start missing.

Hana's eyes flutter open but she very quickly realizes the danger that still rages around the team. She grabs her katana from the ground and lashes out at the eurypetid near her (purple dot) as best she can in an attempt to clear the area so that she can stand.

Katana attack, prone: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Confirm crit: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Katana damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Katana bonus crit damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Thanks for the healing... hopefully we make it out of here!

Mum fires another ray from her finger as she backpedals.
"Rather durable specimen...."
She mutters as she misses again.. "oh heavens...."
disrupt undead: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6