Assuming that Sho is going to chase down the necromancer, Sharae runs to catch up with him... with a knowing smile, she touches the flat edge of his weapon - instantly, it starts to burn with a radiant, pure light...
Botting Ayla
Ayla moves to the floating hand and attacks it (rolls above). Her blows are ineffective.
The ghostly hand vanishes, and reappears next to Sho.
Touch attack
Electricity flashes and crackles all over Sho, but his stoicism means he only hisses once in pain.
Party is up.
Criek squints into the gloom, picking out the necromancer's form and winding up to lob a tanglefoot bag at her --
Realizing he's made himself visible again, and a target, Criek scurries back behind the boulder.
Sho moves quickly and with purpose towards the darkness, aiming for where Criek threw the tanglefoot.
"Come out, come out, where-ever you are.... That is how you say it right?"
Sho quickly and purposely strides into the darkness. Then there is a loud thud , followed by a few words in tien that don't sound like commentary on the weather.
damage to sho
Ayla goes after the caster with her Nodachi
Ayla charges the necromancer, striking with her nodachi (+2 to hit, -2 to AC)
but misjudges her position and misses.
mel reloads her crossbow
sharae to act, then a new round
notes for the map. I have removed the darkness circle, but it is still there, centred on the necromancer, approximately. I have added in some boats, all mostly covered by the darkness.
Moving, much as she’d rather not, towards the darkness… Sharae moves to a position where she can support Sho with Desna’s guidance through the darkness…
Sho will stop and listen to ascertain where the necromancer is the next time she casts.
When or if he detects her he will move cautiously adjacent.
The necromancer casts a spell, and the spectral hand shifts to deliver the attack.
The spectral hand appears in front of sho, but he does not see the hand attack.
Sho gasps, as he feels a sharp pain in his chest, and is staggered.
Sho does however locate the rough location of the parties foe. He starts to move to her.
Sharae, unsure as to what to do, prepares to throw a starknife if the necromancer moves back into the light...
...I hope Ayla and our new friends have got this...
Sorry, my post failed.
Party is up
Ayla continues her attack with the Nodachi
What is with this necromancer...
Criek takes a look over his shoulder, towards the larger battle to the north, to see if the party's assault has been noticed --
-- before stepping out from behind the boulder to take a shot at the necromancer:
Criek notes that no one else seems to have noticed the battle yet.
But his arrow misses
Anody tries to figure out how much longer the darkness might last for but takes no other action.
The necromancer winced. This was not going well. She could fight, and could possibly triumph, but it would be hard, and hey, she might lose. Should she use her ace in the hole? No now was not the time. Time to go. She had other duties.
Stepping back, she then chants a spell.
A few steps in the dark later and both Ayla and Sho realize that the fight is over.
Actions? Note, the darkness spell still persists.
Sho steps out of the darkness and looks towards Sharae.
"Sharae would it be faster to walk to the keep or to take one of these small boats."
Depending on Sharaes answer Sho will either help to ready a boat of start jogging to the keep.
Oh dear, that's another one of our powerful foes that we have let escape. I do hope this doesn't cause us problems later. Anody says fiddling with his glasses. We need to get to the boats, they seem to need our help.
"Without being familiar with those boats Sho? I'm not sure it would be quicker in one of them... It would give us the element of surprise though".
Mel says, i can use a boat. If i an see it. Should we wreak the rest?
Whatever gets us to the boat under attack the fastest I think Anody says.
"Looks like they had a little friend give a hand."
Well Ayla can see in the dark I believe so she can guide us to the boat and point us out of this damned Darkness. If that's the fastest way to go.
Ayla guides them all out of the darkness, so they can see.
Criek agrees with Mel -- "If there's a way we can quickly disable the skiffs, that keeps the pirates from striking again somewhere else...though it means we're stuck with them?"
Examining where teh necromancer stood --
"Looks like she burned herself free with acid -- or some critter did? Her familiar, perhaps?"
Sho looks around once more for more enemies, then slides his naginata thru loops on his back.
"Well then lets get this done before that foul woman comes back with reinforcements."
Sharae, measuring up the boat in her mind - assessing how it will lie in the water and, more importantly, whether it's large enough - follows Sho...
Once the darkness fades, you see a campfire, and five skifts. There is also in the skiffs supplies, such as food, water, rope.
"Push the other boats into the Sellen - burning them will only draw attention to us and, maybe once all of this is done, whoever lives here can make use of the vessels", not waiting for the agreement of her friends, Sharae is already wading waist deep - pushing the first boat into the current...
Sho will move to assist Sharae.
"Which one will we keep to move to the boat?"
Choosing one of the skiffs, and letting the others drift in the current the party proceeds. The abandoned skiffs slowly vanish south as the party heads north.
Items on this skiff.
50 ft of hemp rope
A water barrel
A grapple hook
About ten days of rations
2 alchemist fire flasks, obviously not noticed when the bad guys left the boat.
Other things of interest
When someone touches the rudder, it faintly glows as inscribed runes light up. A detect magic and examination reveals that the rudder is a magic item
Rudder of gainful travel
When grasped this item aids the use a skiff
+3 to prof sailor rolls if equipped on a skiff to all on board
+ 30ft movement for 5 minutes per day, can be taken in one minute allotments.
craft req:summon monster 1, skill focus prof sailor feat, Level 5
You set out up river.
As the party moves closer to the beleaguered fort, more details emerge. It looks as if the tower and boat are being pressured but that most of the bandits are looting. A few leaders seem to be trying to rally them against either the tower or ship, but are having problems. The raiders seem to be orcs, halforcs, humans and goblins (the later are busy setting fires, and singing. badly)