Against the Cult of the Reptile God - Group 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Chainmail

I know, and I thought about that. But Terion survived because his AC was around 19. Bizzlemont's will rarely ever be that high. Ama or Belrain's could be there if they take the ring. And if our healers are protected, then they can help us all.

Those were some hard encounters on that second floor. I think we didn't fare badly. And hopefully 2nd level is close.

I might recommend giving it to one of our armored healers. If they go down, we all face death early.

Agreed

After getting the story from the group, Felgarr will retreat to spend some time in solitude.

Are you still with me, guardian spirit?

I am. The temple must be dealt with. The fallen dwarf must be avenged.

He was a stranger as well. I did not know him. I could not even tell what clan he was from, so little remained.

It does not matter. He was a dwarf. He must be avenged! Torag wills it!

I will trust you, might one.

These are good people. They will help you. Together, you will avenge Flaeg.

It shall be as you say.

Felgarr returns from his lengthy meditation, and joins the conversation.

"I have though long and prayed hard on this matter. Though I would dearly like to chase down and slay those goblins that escaped, I cannot allow this false priesthood to continue to taint this town. I will join you for your venture back to the temple and help cleanse it."

"Though I cannot say why, I feel a strange kinship with you. Ever since I met you, I have felt a glimmer of Torag's presence in my heart, pushing me and leading me to help you."

"By my shield and flail, they will not stand against us long."

The party begins the trek back upstairs. Felgarr remembers there was a priest up there, but what has happened to him?

As the group returns there is no sign of any disturbance in the two rooms upstairs.

Through the room Strang was exploring, or the door the goblins ran through?

Doesn't really matter to me.

Ping grips the wooden shaft of her staff with white-knuckled hands as the group works it's way back through the temple.

Hopefully, I won't get hit again.

Yeah, that really hurt.

Hello strange voice in my head, I don't suppose you know how to fight.

No, I am, or was, not really sure right now, an artist. Painting in oils, watercolors, inks, and acrylics were my favorites.

Ah-krill-licks? Is that some magic paint?

No, it's a kin-- Hey, should we really be having this conversation right now?

Good point.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Elgoron lays a hand on the nervous gnome's shoulder. "Might want to relax your grip a bit, little painter. You'll tire out your arms just holding your staff."

He then returns his gaze to the room at hand. "I think we should cover all possible side rooms this time. Strang, I believe you found an alcove of some sort before our rescue, did you not?"

"It seemed like a regular room to me. I didn't get much of a chance to look through it."

As they re-entered the temple, Ama made sure to look for where they had not yet gotten to the priestess, so she expected to find a body there. She did not have much optimism that Junip survived the goblins, but there was that one room with the chest that had chainmail in it that she wanted to make sure that one of them acquired. She moved to nudge Belrain and asked him in a voice no louder than necessary, "Do not forget those chambers with the chest that had the chainmail in it", she reminded him and the others nearest them.

The glaive was carried on her shoulder loosely, not too worried about having to bring it into play quickly, but she was running through possibilities in her head. She realized that her mistake was rather unavoidable, in that she had to prevent the zombies from entering the hallway where the others were. She was very lucky she survived, she knew. the next fight, she would have to do better.

Belrain, now wearing the ring (which he buffs on his tunic at every opportunity), marches with the others back to the Temple, his club readied and shield (with even more embellishments painted on it) strapped to his other arm. He moves even less cautiously, if that were possible, the magic ring giving him a feeling of invincibility.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Did we get anything off the Hobgoblins? And who was carrying that masterwork Mace we got?

"Yes, what about that armor? Maybe we should check on that?" Belrain says.

Junip is where you left him, but, after checking him, is dead. The chest is gone and the area has been 'cleaned up' some.

"Aww, man! We forgot all the loot, and now it's gone!"

Remembering there was a paladin with them, now, he coughed and corrected himself, "Uhh, that is to say rightful claim from the evil monks and such, not the Temple's property itself."

"We were too busy running for our lives. Maybe we can find out who took it. There were definitely people here while we were gone. But they didn't take or bury the bodies."

Bizzlemont thinks about this for a moment. He runs his hand through his hair and it all turns white. "I say we go back up to see if the goblins are still there and check out those rooms."

"Pray they haven't been raised as more zombies. Nothing as tedious as having to kill something twice, eh?"

When did you get so morbid?

What? You don't have jests and jokes in your world?

"It is never wrong to take from the wicked that which they would use to harm the innocent, Strang."

"I agree with Master Blacktop. The goblins are what we should deal with first. Leaving them here in this temple has caused me sleepless nights while we rested."

Looking all around, Terion ponders where to head to next - "Ok boys, lets do a tour of the place and check if it is deserted - shall we start upstairs?"

Climbing the stairs, the room at the top is also empty. It leads into the room the hobgoblins originally came from

Moving along, but listening before entering any room

Perception if needed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Ping tries to relax her grip on the staff, but the horrors of a couple of days ago are too fresh.

"Things are too quiet here. Shouldn't the townsfolk, or somebody be trying to figure out what happened?"

"Maybe the goblins cleared out. Let's check the room where we had that last fight."

"Agreed. It would have been our next stop in any case."

The first room at the top of the stairs is empty, and a careful examination of the meeting room and library show that they seem to be empty too. The next room to look at is the room the goblins retreated into. This is reached through a single door.

Listening carefully, the group hears nothing and opens the door. They are greeted by the smell of carrion, death, and decay and the room is bathed in an unnatural darkness.

Need to verify that Felgarr is taking Flaeg's spot in the marching order.

The room bathed in darkness, is the room where we are now or the room where we were about to enter?

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"Ugh, what is that?" Bizzlemont peers past those in the front and covers his nose.

Will Low-Light Vision help?

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"More death. I have to wonder how long this temple has been under this so-called "cult's" control. Surprising that those in town don't notice the stench."

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Ping's eyes water as the wall of stink hits her nose. One hand covered by one of her sleeves quickly moves to her nose to stem the assault.

"I don'd know, bud dey musd have sdopped op doses nod do smell dis!"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"Okay, now what?"

Ama did not like the implications of the stench. Could all the bodies that they had encountered have been gathered in this room? If that was the case, then why would someone do that? The other thought that she had was that someone had reanimated all the bodies and they would have been standing like they were when they had encountered the other zombies. She had not really taken the time to look at their faces for any sort of recognition. Her face grim, she held her glaive in both hands and looked to Terion, nodding her readiness.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Belrain, standing with the other armored types, looks nervously into the darkness. He pulls a copper coin from a belt pouch and says, "Light guide us!" The coin begins to glow with a steady white light, and he tosses it into the darkness.

Yes, Felgarr will take a spot at the front.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Felgarr looks around the room, allowing his eyes to dialate and take in the details in the darkness.

The Walking Dead *snicker* are in there. Be careful.

Why do you find the undead funny, spirit?

I don't. It's a TV show.

A tiefling show?

No. Never mind - I'll explain later.

"This place is full of death. Be on your guard."

"I'd suggest staying shoulder to shoulder this time, for those in front. A solid wall of steel cannot be surrounded."

Felgarr looks into the room and sees a mass of zombies. The coin winks out as soon as it is tossed in the room.

I have updated the map and put Felgarr in the front looking into the room with his darkvision. Put other characters around him as you would like them to be as long as they are not inside the room with the three zombies only Felgarr can see, but the others can smell.

Initiative
Terion1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Strang1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Ama1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Belrain1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
Bizzlemont1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Elgoron1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Ping1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Felgarr1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Enemy11d20 ⇒ 19

Initiative
Terion<<<<<<
zombies
party
zombies

"The corpses are moving. Death magic is at work here. Stand fast and fight smart."

"Seems we've a few gravediggers to track down later, then. Warriors front and center. Get their attention, stay together just outside the door, and let them come to us to be shredded one at a time. no charging in on your own!"

"Th-th-this is a recurring nightmare and I can't wake up. P-p-please tell me I'm dreaming!"

Belrain pales, but he stands firm, holding his shield and club up, making a formidable wall against the coming of the zombie horde. He chants a prayer, "Light guide our arms against the unholy!"

Cast Bless. +1 morale to attacks and saves against fear for 10 rounds.

Terion takes his spot next to Felgarr - "Stand fast boys and girls, they will not get past us!"

Dealying action until one of them rears its ugly head.

Round 1, Init 3
AC 19 HP 13

Felgarr shifts his stance to take advantage of Terion and Belrain flanking him with their shields. He swings his flail to make sure the chain us unbound, and looks grimly at the corpses.

"I'll knock 'em down. You chop 'em up."

Ready action to trip a zombie that closes to in front of me, so both my allies can attack it once prone.

Flail to Trip, Combat Expertise: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19 vs. CMD

If the zombie lives through their attacks and tries to stand:
Flail AoO, Combat Expertise, vs. Prone: 1d20 + 3 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 1 + 4 = 7for: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Round 1, Init 11
AC 15, HP 10
Ama had thought of what she could have done differently, and though she had not expected another opportunity to test that action, she was not hesitant about taking her place behind and beside the doorway, so as not to block Elgoron's vantage point. "I'll aid in damaging what I can", she said, her glaive at the ready. She was glad that Felgarr was not as tall as the others. It made her assistance easier.
Readied Attack:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1, Fumble?1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

Round 1 Init 8 Pinc casts Dancing Lights

Ping mutters something. It sound almost like a song, and right when the song hits a climax, four motes of light appear above the groups heads, she moves them forward into the room.

Assuming that one or all of them wink out when the first moves into the room.

Round 1

Strang draws his shortsword and waits anxiously to see what happens next.

Elgoron keeps his staff to his side, and makes sure to glance at the doorways behind them in case of ambush.

"Now then. We're in position. Let's get their attention and lure them each to their second grave."

Three zombies make it to the door. One attacks Felgarr before he puts him on the ground.
charge vs FF: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

A horrible moaning and scratching noise is heard from the room.

Bizzlemont stands beside Elgoron, ready to blind anything which Felgarr can't put to the ground.

Terion falls on the zombie prone before Felgarr with abandon - "And stay DOWN!"

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage if it hits: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Too much abandon it would seem...

"Good. once they've committed to attacking, We let Felgarr take a step back and encircle the poor corpse that walks forward to strike."

Terion swings as they advance, then Felgarr puts the one in the doorway on the ground.

Party to go except for Felgar, who has tripped one.

Terion swings fruitlessly as they advance, then Felgarr puts the one in the doorway on the ground.

Party to go except for Felgar, who has tripped one.

Ping, begins to sing. Despite the quaver in her voice, the song seems to lift the groups spirits.

Beginning Inspire Courage +1 to attacks, damage, and saves 6/7 rounds left

With no clear shots, Elgoron will hold his action to keep an eye on the exits and listen for movement elsewhere.