Anna groans in frustration. "I don't know! He's there, he's not there, I don't know these things. Anyway, we rescued Teddy from him, so I say we keep going. Let's try to reach that tower. We can probably get to the glassblower's shop easy enough, then it's a sprint across the edge of the town square to the tower. We good with that?"
Theopolis looks at the glassblower's shop down the street and peek at the town square. "I highly doubt that I can make that distance without getting any attention."
Tolvan considers the problem. No. We should not try for that shop until we are ready to engage the square. Anna is there another target?
Anna ticks off her fingers, points silently to a few of the buildings, calculates, then shatlkes her head. "No, I don't think so. Unless we want to wander around in the outskirts to look for occupied farmhouses." She shudders, takes a deep breath, and points to the square. "I think that's it."
Ok. Lets prepare. I have another haste to cast, some area effects, and a pit. Plus I can summon some help. He looks to the others. What do you have?
"Daggers. A big crossbow. A little crossbow."
Anna looks at Tolvan hopefully. "Do you have more of that invisibility spell that won't end if I do something violent?"
Tolvan considers. I've not used my bonded item yet. But I sense that this fight is not the final fight for the day. When we clear these mooks I suspect we will then face their master. Better to save some resources for that, no?
Theopolis looks at Tolvan. "I'm ready to face them. This might be a long battle, but I think that if we stick together we should do fine." He then readies his shield and his longsword, with a determined look on his face, he nods at Tolvan.
"'Stick together,' he says. Sure," Anna mutters. "But let's not rule out the possibility of running away. We could fall back to the ghost house, or maybe one of the places where the Demon Wolves used to hole up. Or hell, we could run all the way back to the farmhouse. Just in case, right? No sense in getting overrun."
She checks the edge of her blade nervously.
Danica stands with her friends and nods. "To use Temple sword or nunchaku...that is the question."
Pharasma has blessed me with a good arsenal to battle undead. I have plenty of healing still available. Let be give Pharasma's blessings to us before we go forward to rid the world of these abominations.
Tolvan considers the town layout. I think I can best serve from a rooftop with a clear view of the town's center. So we go in together, I haste the group and they pop up onto a roof. I'll cast Shield just before we enter the square too. From the rooftop I can do some battlefield control and see about limiting the enemy's ability to surround you. Are we ready?
"'Haste the group'? Oh! The speedy spell. Yeah, that's a pretty good one. Okay. I guess we're doing this."
At Danica's question about sword or nunchaku, Anna slaps her forehead and stows her dagger. Then she rummages through her pack and produces the old mace she bought for their trip to Harrowstone. She gives it a few test swings and then nods.
Anna throws up her hood and begins stealthily moving toward the town square, a bit in advance of the others, picking the best route that can get them close without being seen.
Tolvan renews the Message spell before Anna gets too far away and then whispers My spell of speed can only reach 30'. Do not get too far away and come back before you fight so you can benefit from the spell.
Round zero Tolvan, moving to point X with the group uses a wand to cast Shield on himself.
Round one, Tolvan advances with the group up to 30 feet, bow in one hand and an arrow knocked. Touching his amulet briefly he casts Haste on the party, extending it to last 16 rounds.
Round two Taking in where all the undead are, and not wanting to burn the town, Tolvan places a wall of fire to divide the horde, burning as many as reasonable while leaving a few on this side of the way so that our melee can engage them. Tolvan places the wall on a large number of undead burnging them for damage. Those within 10' of the hot side of the wall take and those between 10' and 20' take damage. Note based on the size of the squares on the map Tolvan gets 4 full squares of wall length.
At the end of either round 1 or 2 (depending on the threat) he wizard dimensionally shifts to stand on the roof of the large building near the X.
School evocation [fire]; sorcerer/wizard 4
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (a piece of phosphor)
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect opaque sheet of flame up to 20 ft. long/level or a ring of fire with a radius of up to 5 ft./two levels; either form 20 ft. high
Duration concentration + 1 round/level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
An immobile, blazing curtain of shimmering violet fire springs into existence. One side of the wall, selected by you, sends forth waves of heat, dealing 2d4 points of fire damage to creatures within 10 feet and 1d4 points of fire damage to those past 10 feet but within 20 feet. The wall deals this damage when it appears, and to all creatures in the area on your turn each round. In addition, the wall deals 2d6 points of fire damage + 1 point of fire damage per caster level (maximum +20) to any creature passing through it. The wall deals double damage to undead creatures.
If you evoke the wall so that it appears where creatures are, each creature takes damage as if passing through the wall. If any 5-foot length of wall takes 20 points or more of cold damage in 1 round, that length goes away. (Do not divide cold damage by 2, as normal for objects.)
Anna slips ahead of the others, under the cover of her magic cloak and her own talents at stealth. She moves in fairly close to the amassed undead, hiding among the tangled debris and weeds.
Anna snaps off a shot at the nearest skeleton with her big crossbow, then her sandals of quick reaction activate and let her dash back to the group in time to take advantage of Tolvan's spell.
The surge of magical speed lets Anna cross the battlefield quickly. She unlimbers the light mace at her hip and swings at the next skeleton before it can react, smashing its skull to splinters.
Tolvan's next spell splits the forces of the undead nicely, keeping her from getting overrun while the skeletons finally begin their counterattack. She steps into a flank with Danica or Theo, and her enhanced speed causes her mace to again crush negative energy-infused bones.
The group approaches the town square, staying out of sight. As everyone prepares their weapons and make last minute adjustments, Anna pulls up the hood of her cloak and sneak closer to a lone skeleton. She uses her big crossbow and send a bolt flying. The bolt hit the cervical vertebrae and the skull goes flying as the rest collapse. She then retreats back to the group just in time to be enhance by the magic of the casters.
Both Tolvan and Kimberly use their magic to boost the fighting capabilities of the group. Once done, Theopolis charges into a group of skeletons. With his shield in front of him, he bashes the first skeleton he reach, sending bones flying every where. Before the indeed have a chance to react, Danica follow suit with her Nunchaku. Smashing it on a skeleton next to the Paladin. Anna follows the two melee fighter and set herself on the other flank of Theopolis. Destroying another skeleton. Kimberly moves closer to the rest of the group, but remain out of reach of the skeletons. As for Tolvan, he vanishes from sight only to reappear on the roof of a building. From there, he gets a good view of the battlefield. The group has had a good start, but there are so many skeletons, that it is almost impossible to count.
The Skeletons move up to counter attack, but none are able to pass the strong defense of the group. To prevent being overrun, Tolvan conjures a wall of fire, cutting out a big part of the horde from the rest. Multiple skeletons get destroyed in the fire, and it should slow those that survived. Kimberly catches up to the group, and unleashes a powerful wave of positive energy, destroying all the skeletons around her in a thirty foot radius. Theopolis nods and the young priest and once again charges the next line of enemies. You can all hear the sound of bones and steel smashing into each other. Both Danica and Anna position themselves to accomplish the maximum amount of damage. so far the battle is going well, but it is far from over.
Happy with the flow of battle, Tolvan watches for greater threats and prepared to drop a pit under any new threat he thinks is significant.
Kimberly tries to keep as many of the skeletons from getting close to her as possible. she allows then to close in before sending forth another burst of positive energy.
With a large amount of the skeletons removed from around her, Kimbery focuses more on keeping her friends healthy.
Anna swings and jabs with her mace, taking advantage of her enhanced speed and the distraction caused by Danica and Theopolis. She dances and spins out of the reach of the grasping bony claws and staying nimble and evasive even in the few times she gets surrounded.
Danica stands by Anna and continues to stay within the radius of the Haste spell. Realizing that the skeletons are a minor threat the inquisitor lets the skeletons come to her rather than engaging them. <"I'm letting them come to me....matter of fact....this is way too easy...>" she says via the message spell.
Spells in effect
Shield of Faith, Flames of the Faithful, Haste, Mage Armor.
The fight continues to go well. Tolvan survey the battlefield, trying to find an important target to hit with his spells. Letting the undead come to them, Theopolis and Danica keep Kimberly between them to make sure that she suffers no harms. Theopolis's shield and sword make quick work of the skeletons. As for Danica, her Nunchaku he's just a blur in her hand as she crushes and break the bones of the skeletons around them. Anna uses her speed and agility to bring down more skeletons, bones are quickly piling up on the ground. But still, more see to come for them. A few manage to have time to place an attack before being burned out of existence by Kimberly channeling of positive energy.
The group is getting closer to the pit in the center of the town square. Theopolis once again uses both sword and shield to destroy the enemies before him. This time, however en notice that those skeletons are slightly tougher to destroy. "They seem to have kept the best stuff closer to the center. This might slow us down a bit, but I am sure we can still make it." Danica and Anna encounter the same resistance from their foes, but still, multiples skeletons fall under their attacks. Some of the skeletons that were blocked by the wall of fire are starting to pour from the side of it. Some wander too close and start burning. Kimberly uses her divine magic to summon an invisible force that will stop most undead from attacking her. To her surprise, as she cast the spell another wave of positive energy is released from her, destroying most of the skeleton around the group.
From the north end of the wall of fire, there is a group of wights with the skeletons. There seem to be five or six of them. There are two cultists climbing out of the pit, looking rather unhappy about the group destruction of their skeletons.
Danica says to the group via the message spell <There are 2 humans...walking along the southern wall of the building. Tolvan, should we head back or can you handle them? Everyone...we have wights incoming and two cultists. Should we press forward or retreat and let them come to us?>
For the next 2 rounds Danica will continue to be on the defensive allowing the undead to come to her. If the wights come to engage then she will use Bane Undead.
Tolvan will pit one group and then drop a Flaming Sphere to harass the wights (if they are not pitted) or the cultists if they are pitted. He will then ready to disrupt spell casting of the cultists with magic missiles.
Anna keeps swinging her mace at the nearby skeletons, staying close to Danica and Theopolis to take advantage of flanking. She eyes the wights warily, and smirks when they fall into the pit that opens up beneath them.
Anna shifts from her two-handed grip on her mace to draw her hand crossbow when Tolvan lights up the sneaks behind them.
She backs away from the skeletal horde and draws a bead on one of the glitterdusted rogues who looks blinded. She puts a well-placed bolt in him, then gets ready to deal with the other.
Kimberly relies on her sanctuary spell to keep the lesser undead from attacking her as she move up toward Anna.
You got this, Pharasma will keep you going she whispers as she touches Anna to heal her wounds.
Again hoping that her Sanctuary spell is working, Kimberly moves toward Dancia
Pharasma will protect you she says as touches Dancia.
Seeing the new groups of enemies showing, Tolvan react by making a pit appear under the wights. All the wights fall into the pit, within a second, the skeletons around the pit also fall in on top of the wights. Happy with the result, Tolvan turns his attention to the group that is trying to sneak it's way to the fight.
Danica, Theopolis and Anna continue their fight in the group. They still leave an impressive amount of destroyed wounded in their wake, but the progress is slow. Kimberly is using an opening in the fight to get near Anna. She summons her divine energy to heal Anna's wounds. To her surprises, the outburst of energy happened again. This time, however, it heals almost all of her companions. Tolvan continues to unleash arcane energy at the enemies. This time he conjures a cloud of golden dust that cover everything in it. He can hear the surprise of the man below. Both seem completely caught in the effect.
"Kimberly!" Theopolis rushes to the young oracle side and slam his shield into the skeleton that tried to attack her. Staying next to the Paladin and Kimberly, Danica continues to destroy as many undead as she can. Anna finds a safe spot and takes out her hand crossbow. She aims at one of the blinded men and send a bolt flying. She hit him in the shoulder, making him drop to one knee. Tolvan, still safe on his roof, turn his attention now to the group of cultist near the pit. With a few arcane words and summons up a ball of fire directly between the two cultists. Burnt by the fire, they both jump backward into the pit. The two blind men try to withdraw unsure of where the group is.
Kimberly moves to Danica's side. She recites the usual prayer for a simple protection spell. Like before, the outburst of energy washes over the undead, destroying most of them. Then, as she touches Danica to transfer the energy, there is another, yet smaller burst of silvery light. After the flash, Anna, Theopolis and Danica are all surrounded a brilliant divine radiance. As for Kimberly, her skin is glowing with a silver light and is almost translucent. She also appears older...
<<Anna, focus on the blind sneaks! Dont let them escape.>> Tolvan sends through the message.
Tolvan uses his move action to keep the flaming sphere burning enemy. He will keep it on the cultist if he can see them from his vantage point, Otherwise he will move it into the pit with the undead.
With his standard actions, and perhaps a swift to re-position with a dimensional shift he will use his wand of Acid Arrow to attack the blind sneaks himself. Note with each hit the damage happens over two rounds. He will focus on the wounded one until it drops.
Kimberly stands still looking at her hands and her self. Pharasma's blessing is with us. she makes the mark of the Lady of graves over her heart.
Mother of Souls, lift me above, help me find the true evil that defiles your realm.
Kimberly scans the area for someone or something that is the source of animating these undead.
If she sees a viable target...
cease this abomination she says as she shoots forth a beam of energy.
Anna sees Tolvan blasting the one she shot with her crossbow, so she runs up to the other one. She whistles once to get the blinded foe to turn around, then she slips to his side and brings her mace into his gut.
As he doubles over, she twirls the mace and drives it down on the back of his skull. If there's any fight left in him, she bashes him again, or if not, she takes a moment to stow her crossbow.
Danica feels the protective force being bestow upon her.
Danica will continue with her defensive posture, spinning her nunchaku and slamming the other end onto anyone or any creature that comes to threaten the group. At the same time she will ensure that no creature comes towards Kimberly.
AC - 31 (+4 Mage Armor, +4 Aura, +1 Haste)
Spells in effect
Flames of the Faithful,
Shield of Faith - +2 deflection,
Haste - +1 dodge,
Mage Armor - +4 armor,
Holy Aura - +4 Deflection (supersedes Shield of Faith)
Tolvan moves into a better position and launches an acid arrow to the already wounded cultist that was sneaking toward the group. The man gets hit hard and while still barely alive, Tolvan expert's eye tells him that the continual effect of the spell will finish the man off. Feeling the power growth within herself, Kimberly cast a spell that allows her to rise above the undead. The light coming from her increase as she lifts off the ground. You can all feel the pulsing energy hitting in waves. While it is soothing for you, it seems to push back the undead, clearing a path to the center of the town square where the two other cultists are holed up.
Anna uses the diversion created by Kimberly and heads for the other blinded man. She smashes her morningstar into the man's gut, making him fall prone and out of breath. Danica and Theopolis stay near Kimberly. They continue to smash all the wounded that come too close.
Tolvan and Anna finish off the second cultist and look toward the rest of the group. They see Danica and Theopolis standing under Kimberly, their eyes locked on the young woman... or rather what used to be the young woman. Above the army of undead floats a full grown woman, dressed in some sort of ancient ceremonial garb of Pharasma. She speaks in some old common tongue, reciting prayers for a funeral rite. She starts moving forward toward the pit up ahead. A globe of energy about forty foot, in radius encircle her. It seems to create a barrier that the undead can't pass. Theopolis wave at Anna and Tolvan. "Come quick! This might be our best chance to get to the center and see what was happening there."
You walk inside the tomb, watching as the pole bearers place Ananias in the sarcophagus that will hold his body until he is needed once more. Pharasma had gifted you with a vision of where to bury him and of the ritual to accomplish to seal the tomb. From what you understood the vision, you will be the only person to be able to reopen the tomb, when the time would come.
Anna gawks at Kimberly for a moment until Theopolis shakes her out of her amazement. She tears her eyes away from the floating Oracle and follows the paladin to the edge of the pit. Tentatively, she peers in.
Danica waves everyone to come towards them, being within the power of Pharsma. "Do not disturb her. She is an instrument of Pharsma. Let it play out." Danica continues to stare at the new form of Kimberlyd and realizes that their little girl is no longer a "little girl".
Kimberly floats toward the pit. The powerful energy keeping everything out. Even though you are surrounded by undeads from all sides, you feel at peace. It takes a few seconds, but eventually, she comes to a stop over the pit. Looking down, you see an old tomb. I would seem that the cultist where digging out more than just some skeletons. Of the cultist that was in there, they seem to have left before the energy got to them.
Kimberly land in front of the door. As she continues reciting the prayers, the rest of the group notices that the cultist were trying to force their way inside. The craftsmanship is amazing. This tomb most have been for someone very important. There are symbols of Pharasma present, but also some others that you have to really think to know what they are. Kimberly walks forward and touches the doors. The symbols light up and the door opens slowly. Once they are fully open, Kimberly enters, with each step, symbols on the floor light up. You can follow the energy traveling on the floor and reaching the columns. In turn, the columns transfer the energy to the ceiling. The energy lights up the room which allows you to see Inside.
On the other side of the room, you find a single sarcophagus. The same crests and symbols that were on the door are repeated on the sarcophagus. The wall of the tomb seems to depict some sort of epic battle where humans and dwarves were fighting to end. Carved on the far wall, you can see a prominent figure standing with an arm stretched upward holding a scimitar. Crushed undead lie at his feet and the men around him seem to be celebrating. There is a symbol also carved above him on the wall.
Kimberly crosses the floor and stand in front of the sarcophagus, still reciting prayers. Your hair starts to rise as there is a built up of energy that is focused on the sarcophagus.
The style of the construction tell you that this was built around the 3500 to 4000 period of the Age of Enthronement. Also, the craftmanship level hint towards the dwarves from the Kingdom of Kraggodan as the builders.
While you are able to identify the symbol of Pharasma. The one that is often repeated are the symbols that represent the fate and prophecy portfolio of the goddess.
Among the crests, you find the some for the Kingdom of Kraggodan, for the Knights of Ozem and of the Taldoran Empire.
The biggest crest is one of an ancient Taldoran family now lost to time.
Name later, I don't have all my notes here.
This tomb seems to be above a network of ley lines all connecting in the ground. If tapped in properly, the magical marvel one could attain would be just sort of godly.
"Hey! It's that guy who Teddy was with!" Anna remarks as she tries to make sense of what she's seeing.
Kimberly seems to recognize much of religious symbols, General Ananias Kimberly says, adding to Anna's observation.
Kimberly recants her vision for the others. then adding, When the time is right and he is needed I shall open the tomb.
You are no longer fighting against an army of undead. You are in a field leading a funeral procession. There are no traces of building here, except the tomb that was built for the hero that died not long ago. General Ananias, who sacrificed his life in the fight against Tar-Baphon. On your right stand the men that served under him. Proud Taldoran soldier, now grief stricken at the fall of their leader. On the left are the dwarves of Kraggodan, who came to honor the man. They even helped build the tomb and provided a rare and beautiful gift for the man.
You walk inside the tomb, watching as the pole bearers place Ananias in the sarcophagus that will hold his body until he is needed once more. Pharasma had gifted you with a vision of where to bury him and of the ritual to accomplish to seal the tomb. From what you understood the vision, you will be the only person to be able to reopen the tomb, when the time would come.
Kimberly the approaches the tomb. we must end the Whispering way, once and for all. she says as she moves to unseal the tomb.