Aerian methodically cracks his skeletal knuckles as he readies himself for the fight of his life (or rather, unlife). He stands 15 ft in the front of his companions, trying to buy them space and time.

there are a fair few good throwing stones out there in the river bed

the ground between Aerian and the rest of the group starts to turn to soft mud, as a large rotting monstrosity made of eyes, mouths and teeth starts to crawl its way to the surface

this is the suprice round, you guys act, since this thing has made its action

Philip sees the creature starting to emerge from the ground, and reacts quickly.

move to melee range, and attack it as it emerges.

Attack shortsword 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 plus Sneak attack )if applicable, 1d6 ⇒ 3

Initiative 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Init: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Aerian is on the move as soon as he realizes where the monster is. He moves in and claws it.

Claw atk: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Claw dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Since my init is higher, I will get there first. Philip, if you flank, you get to add 2 to ur atk and your sneak atk applies.

Initiative = 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

How far away is the monster?

Well, if the monster is 5' away from me, I'll take a 5-foot step away before attacking. If it's 10 or 15 feet away, I'll move 30 feet away from it before attacking.

Also, during my first attack, are either of my friends within melee range of it? I'll assume not. If one of them is, you can apply the -4 penalty yourself.

And because you said "rotting," I'll assume it's undead, so I get extra damage.

Attack = 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage = 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9

1) they wheren't when you fired since your rolled really high
2) its about 7feet away at the start
3) yes its undead

its roll for initiative

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Filleox goes first
then the monster
then Aerian
then Philip

How far away is it, you have a typo, I think?

about 7 ft

Okay, I'll move 30 feet away from it before my attack.

ok

and i know you already had your turn but still... Filleox your turn

Sorry, but I'm confused. Did I attack? Did I hit? Did the monster attack? Did the other PCs attack? Is it round 2 now?

Or maybe you're saying that we just had a surprise round, so I had time only to move, not attack?

you attacked, you hit, the other PC attacked and now is round 2....

ulgulanoth, I think it would help if you tell us whether our attacks hit/have any effects. We were all sort of confused.

Also, what did the monster do in round 1? Did it spend its turn burrowing up?.

Did the other PCs hit? Did the monster attack? Do I know whether the damage I did - and the damage Philip did - got partly negated by DR?

I'm sorry if I'm bogging the game down with all these questions, but it makes a difference. Unless the answers to those questions are very much in our favor, I would write this:

Filleox calls "Listen guys, I think we might be in over our heads, here. It may be time to exercise the better part of valor."

Ah well, I guess I'll attack, even though I get a -4 penalty for firing into melee, negating my +4 to attack.

Attack = 1d20 ⇒ 11
Damage = 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12

Also, I'll want to walk such that I stand 45' away from the monster - just close enough so that I don't get a penalty for range (even though the odds are very small of my hitting anyway.)

Philip continues attacking the monsters flank.

Attack 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12, Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, plus Sneak Attack 1d6 ⇒ 1

Aerian executes his monastic training and unleashes a full attack of claws at the monster, flanking with Philip.

2 atks: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12

1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

ok the monster is looking rather "hurt" (well being undead its hard to tell)
it slams Aerian
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Aerian you take 8 damage

Okay, that wasn't quite as bad as I thought... although it still may prove to be bad enough. I guess maybe this ISN'T a gibbering mouther. Mind you, I'd still like to know if any damage got reduced by DR, and if so, which attacks got reduced in that way.

Filleox advances 30', now standing 15' away from the monster, and shoots his last magic stone.

Attack = 1d20 ⇒ 11
Damage = 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6) + 2 = 11

Philip attacks the monsters flank again.

Attack 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10, Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, plus Sneak Attack 1d6 ⇒ 3

Undeterred by the monster's ferocity, Aerian moves into the next set of his monastic drill, slicing at the monster with his claws.

2 claw atks: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

wow, i was expecting it to last a bit longer
the monstrous creature deflates as the energies that were keeping it animated dissolve into the ether, it is dead
you all gain 800xp

"Well then," says Aerian as he brushes the bone chips off his knuckles, "shall we resume?"

"Yeah, no reason not to keep going."

so what are you guys going to do?
will you go back to get the boy and your guide who are running away?
or will you scout ahead for trouble first?

"Wait, we forgot about our guide! Let's go get them and we can continue onwards."

agreed

"I agree as well."

By the way, since I was obviously wrong about that thing being a gibbering mouther, does anyone have any idea what it might have been?

well it doesn't take you long to find Nalaliel and the boy not far from the river bank, Nalaliel seems to have convinced the little skeleton to calm down some what and talk about himself

Philip turns tot he group, "We should get moving."

Turning to the young skeleton, he asks, What is your name? Do you remember what happened to you?"

Aerian takes the opportunity to look around the place, making sure nothing else sneak up on the group while they converse.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

the boy says "Wilhelm"

Aerian

"Hey guys there's a small dirt path leading away from the river bank. Nalaliel, can we take that and still be on the general direction of where we're suppose to go?"

Nalaliel "I think so"
boy "no- thats where the skeletons are"

"Wilhelm, did you see the skeletons over there..." Filleox points in the direction of the dirt path. "...doing something bad?"

"Maybe I should scout this first, what do you guys think?"

"Sounds like a plan. Go see what you can find Philip. We'll be a minute behind you. Boy, you think you can be ok coming along with us?"

Filleox, not turning from Wilhelm, holds a skeletal hand up to Philip and Aerian. "Just wait one moment. Wilhelm, did you see something bad happen over there?"

I just want to get whatever useful info I can. I don't know if a roll is called for, but just in case one is...

Diplomacy = 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Philip moves quietly out along the dirt path, sesnses reaching out for any sign of trouble...

Stealth 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Filleox, I believe that's where the skeletons who massacred skeleton kid's family went.

Wilhelm "that's were all my friends died"

Philip

Filleox, I believe that's where the skeletons who massacred skeleton kid's family went.

Maybe. Or maybe the kid just woke up one day to find living skeletons instead of his family members, and he couldn't accept that those living skeletons WERE his family, so he chose to believe that they KILLED his family instead.

Of course, I could easily be wrong. The boy said something about "burned it all." Who burned what?

"Wilhelm, did you see skeletons doing bad things? What did you see them do? Did you see them burning your village?"

Obviously, I don't ask all three questions at once. I ask one, and if Wilhelm gives me only vague answers, I move on to the next, more specific question. I don't want to put words into Wilhelm's mouth if I can avoid it.

"they-they killed everyone, they burned our village to the ground and they left"

All right.

"Wilhelm, we need to go down the path. Come with us, and if the bad skeletons are still there, we'll protect you. I promise."

Wilhelm "a-alright"

Okay, let's go. Sorry for the delay. Clearly, I'm slower on the draw than you two are, but I wanted to make sure I understood.

ok...
after a couple of hours of travel, you find yourselves at the edge of a burnt out ruins of a once upon a time village. everything as far as you can see has been destroyed in some form or another, except for a small tower like building at the other end of the village. its about 6 stories high.
what do you guys whant to do?

Filleox points to the tower and says "Wilhelm, do you know what that building is?"

"Where did you live, Wilhelm?"

more perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9