Corsario |
An archway of stone is set into the side of a small hill at the bottom of the valley. Moss has overgrown many of the details, but one is still quite clear. The keystone of the arch is carved with a flame symbol with a stylized rune in the middle. Beyond the archway is a darkened tunnel that leads to a pair of massive wooden doors, one of which is slightly ajar.
A pair of horses and a trio of ponies lie slaughtered next to the archway, each corpse still tied to a post set into the ground nearby. A swarm of flies hangs lazily in the air above them.
Qina Coldfire |
Qina readies a bolt in her crossbow and utters a few words while drawing a couple of symbols in the air. As she finishes, she touches her crossbow and light begins to fill the immediate area. She glances down the tunnel at the doors, mostly looking at the floor, the walls, and the ceiling.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Qina casts a light spell on crossbow. She's not stepping beyond the archway yet.
"Staci, how are you feeling? Can you push on?"
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
Backing up a bit to the aftermath of the fall.
Staci gratefully accepts the crutch. She smiles back at Qina. "I think I can manage with this. ~waves the crutch~ If it gets bad, we'll try to splint it."
To the cave
Staci frowns and prods a dead horse. "This isn't some cheap trick to scare us. It's too real."
Any clue how long the animals have been dead? How did they die? Nice clean throat cutting, many weapon blows, or big bites?
Corsario |
Qina Coldfire |
"Why don't Stefan and I check out just what's beyond the doors? We can be quiet and take a peak and come back, either way. If we come back running, that'll be the signal that there is trouble."
"Gurgich, do you see any tracks around besides our and the horses and ponies? Does Karvili smell anything?"
Gurcich Morbet |
Perception Roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
"Karvili! Something Under!"
Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Below the dead horse there is an ancient skeleton, crushed by the horse.
"Too old! No Tracks, No smells."
Corsario |
They also finds 2 days’ worth of rations, a pair of large, comfortable pillows, a quiver with 10 blunt arrows (as normal arrows, but they only deal nonlethal damage), and 2 pints of lamp oil in one of the saddlebags.
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 The heal check DC is only 10. Anyone can take a crack at it.
Percept: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Staci looks at the bones. "Did the horse just happen to fall on top of an old skeleton? How likely is that? There's something fishy going on."
Looking all around, she hobbles toward the cave mouth. "Qina, Stefan, be very careful. Will you need torches?"
Corsario |
The skeleton looks very old, and, besides having a horse fell on top of him, is not embedded in the earth.
Also, it's claw-like hands have horse fur and dry blood on them.
Corsario |
Unless mentioned otherwise, the crypt is unlit. If the PCs want to be able to see, they must bring their own light or rely on darkvision.
Ceilings are 15 feet high and all the surfaces are made of stone. The walls are decorated with a scrolling pattern of villagers fighting masked bandits and monsters. This artwork is still in relatively good condition, although water damage and lichen have taken their toll. The stench of mold and rot hangs heavy in the air.
As the heavy doors swing open, the faint light from outside reveals a long chamber with risen platforms on either side. A faded painting of Kassen is on the far wall. The room appears to be the site of a gruesome battle, with two bodies piled in the center and a number of skeletons scattered around. An echoing wail can be heard somewhere in the distance, beyond this foul chamber.
DM Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Normally trying to sneak somewhere while carrying a light source makes the stealth roll much harder. But let's ignore it this time, as it can be confused with the moon light.
There are eight skeletons in various places around this chamber. Of the eight, two are smashed and broken, while the other six are intact. You can also see at least two backpacks.
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
"I think you did the right thing. We know the skeletons would chase you out here and now Gurcich and I won't be surprised. We might even be able to set a trap for them. Gozreh might be able to help...."
Staci pulls out her leaf-shaped holy symbol and her expression goes slowly vacant as she looks at it.
Know(religion) Skeleton traits: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 No info there.
A moment later she shakes herself from the reverie. "I think I could focus a little of Gozreh's raw power to harm them, but I've never done it before. "
I think shooting them is a good idea. Stefan could retreat past Gurcich and Staci on either side of the door so we might get readied attacks and AoO if they give chase. We could possibly use the door cut some off. Which way does the door open. Alternatively we could barge in and try to catch as many as possible in a channel.
Gurcich Morbet |
Gurcich grabs his Quarterstaff and casts Shillelagh on it.
"Smash them!"
Qina Coldfire |
"I can cast a magic armor spell a few times, but it'll only last an hour or so, so once we start, I say we try to get as far as we can as quickly as we can before our resources run out. I could cast it on Gurgich, Karvili, and myself to keep us better protected. I also have a spell that will zap undead that I can keep casting. Otherwise, I'm ready whenever you are."
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
Staci readies her shield and trident. She leaves her holy symbol dangling from a lanyard around her neck.
Are we going to charge in or try to lure them out? Can we use the door to gate them?
Qina Coldfire |
"We should try to stand in the doorway so that only a few can get to us at a time since they out number us. Maybe Stefan and I could get shots off from the doorway and fall back while you guys step forward and take our spots? Or maybe Stefan and Karvili enter the room so that we can try to surround a few...man, this strategy stuff is hard!"
Corsario |
Gurcich open the doors with a kick and six skeletons rise from the ground. They turns towards you, hiss, and charge! Only two of them get in position to attack.
Broken scimitar attack (+2 charge) against Gurcich: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Broken scimitar attack (+2 charge) against Karvili: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Gurcich gets a slight cut on the chest, but Karvili gets impaled on a shoulder by the broken scimitar of the skeleton in front of her.
Hero's Turn!
Combat Map
Karvili |
Karvili cries, badly wounded.
She throws a bit against the skeleton that attacked her.
Bite Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
She barely grabs the skeleton with her mouth, but with a powerful pull destroy it.
She takes a step back, behind Staci...
Gurcich Morbet |
Gurcich turns at Karvili with a worriedly look.
"Karvili!"
Seeing that she is safe behind Staci, attacks the skeleton in front of him.
TWF Quarterstaff attack 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
[dice=Damage "Main Hand"]2d6+4[/dice]
TWF Quarterstaff attack 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
[dice=Damage "Off Hand"]2d6+2[/dice]
his first attack misses, but the second destroys the skeleton.
Stefan Bar-Noble |
You need to set up the map to share, so that we can move our aliases.
Stefan will provoke from the first two skeletons as he maneuvers around behind the first skeleton. He then will prepare an action to attack the first skeleton as soon as someone is in a flanking position. He will use his combat expertise to increase his chance to not be hit.
Attack and damage (with combat expertise and assuming a flank). It is piercing damage.: 1d20 + 3 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 1 + 2 = 171d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (4) = 12
Qina Coldfire |
We can see the map but can not move our tokens around.
Ranged Touch Attack vs. skeleton: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Qina points a finger at a skeleton and summons a little positive energy before mentally pulling the trigger to fire her ray. She then remembers Wait, I'm not left handed.
Standard Action: Cast Disrupt Undead at skeleton 20 feet (4 squares) south of her position.
Corsario |
Right! I prefer to move the tokens myself...
Stefan, to pass "between" the skeletons, you can use acrobatics to avoid provoking Attacks of Opportunity, if you want.
Qina attack fails...
Waiting for Staci.
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
Staci feels the bones crunch beneath her feet as she steps forward. She slips her trident into the hand holding her shield and grasps her holy symbol in her free hand. She holds her holy symbol high.
"Gozreh send you all to judgement."
Step forward onto one of the skeleton corpses to block the doorway. Channel.
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 2 DC 12 Will save for half.
She shifts the trident back to her right hand and awaits the skeleton's charge.
Stefan Bar-Noble |
Right! I prefer to move the tokens myself...
Stefan, to pass "between" the skeletons, you can use acrobatics to avoid provoking Attacks of Opportunity, if you want.
Qina attack fails...
Waiting for Staci.
Fine. I move four spaces south, working around the skeletons. In order to use acrobatics to avoid provoking, I would have to move at half-speed, which I do not care to do. My AC is 17 because of combat expertise. This will also allow anyone else to move without provoking.
Corsario |
Stefan moves to get flanking on the skeletons. Two of them try to cut him down with his broken scimitars.
Broken scimitar AoO attack 1: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Broken scimitar AoO attack 2: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Stefan gets cut up once. (5 hp damage)
Staci channels damaging all the skeletons, which crack and groan.
Except the one in front of her, which is destroyed by Stefan.
The skeleton in the back move up and attack Stefan.
Broken scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
He makes a slash on Stefan body, and the Rogue falls down (-1 hp).
The other two skeletons, seeing Stefan out, move up and attack Staci.
Broken scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Broken scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
But they both miss.
Heroe's turn!
Combat Map
Statice Blue 'Staci' Portrow |
"Stefan!"
Staci lets the holy symbol drop back to her breast and drags her shield from right to left to sweep the skeleton's arm out of the way. Then she drives her pitchfork at the skeleton's ribs.
Trident: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 .... damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Let's hope G's Q-staff scores big.
Gurcich Morbet |
Gurcich takes a step forward and attacks both the skeletons while calling his friend.
"Stefan!"
TWF Quarterstaff attack 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
[dice=Damage "Main Hand"]2d6 + 4[/dice]
TWF Quarterstaff attack 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
[dice=Damage "Off Hand"]2d6 + 2[/dice]
His first attack destroys and skeleton, the other misses.
Corsario |
Qina magic ray destroys the skeleton in the back.
Karvili, very hurt, keeps behind the others.
We still need Stefan constitution check to stabilize
The last skeleton attacks Staci.
Broken scimitar: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Heroe's Turn!
Combat map