"Waste of our chime," Uwais says to Kua. "We've been locked in, and that chime is our way out. Running errands and what-not seems like a folly. There must be some way for him to be up there - perhaps we can find another way."
"I don't think we should allow ourselves to be stuck in this position again. Perhaps we should go to purchase a ladder. We can just stash it in one of these side rooms for whenever we need it. Yang, are you able to use ladders?"
"I am fat, not crippled. Yes, I can climb ladder."
“I think, as Uwais has said, a ladder is out of the question at this point, unless we find one here,” says Detressa. “If we head south,” the priestess points towards the stairs leading up to the south, “we should be back at the same level as the room that Sister Mara climbed up into; perhaps there will be another way in somewhere in that direction.”
"A good plan, Detressa," the halfling says. "Let us look further before we go the way he knows we know of yet again."
"I agree - Detressa's plan sounds good. But before we head out I can cast two healing spells on those who are still wounded. Kua appears to be the most grievously hurt, so I'll use one spell on him. Master Uwais and Master Yang, which of you would like the other spell?"
After a moment to catch your breath (and to halt your chattering teeth), you climb the stairs south to another long ten foot wide hallway. After about fifteen feet you can just barely make out a group of figures roughly sixty feet down the hallway in the dim light shed by your spells. The familiar creak of bowstrings being pulled back reaches your ears...
Kua:
Uwais leaps from Waya's back and looses the stone from his sling, giving a growl to Waya to attack. She rushes forward, growling fiercely.
Initiative:
initiative
Perception 10+:
Kua:
Initiative
Archers- 25
Detressa- 16
Yang- 14
Uwais & Waya/Mara- 12
Kua- 11
The strings snap and four arrows fly out of the darkness at Kua and Sister Mara!
Vs. Kua:
Vs. Sister Mara:
The archers get the drop on the party, tagging Kua and Sister Mara with one arrow each.
Uwais' bullet sails through the corridor, slipping through the gap between the standing archers to clatter off into the darkness. Waya runs into the fray with a snarl, snapping at the kneeling front rank- but the slim archer is quite nimble and dogs her attack.
“Animate skeletons!” exclaims Detressa, peering ahead. “Of some unusual variety ...”
"And now, I cannot use my fire or else cook the animal," sighs Yang. He sends a force missile flying at the closest archer.
Round One:
Sister Mara winces in pain as the arrow slams into her body. With a grimace of anger she rushes forward toward the skeletal formation and unleashes a bolt of divine energy at one of the archers standing in the second rank, behind the kneeling skeletons.
Detressa:
Yang's missile of force slams into the skeleton on the left as Waya closes on the right and Sister Mara unleashes her bolt of positive energy at the front rank, splintering bones left and right.
Kua rips the arrow from his shoulder with an angry growl, drinks his potion of cure light wounds, then attempts to close the distance [AX/39] to the skeletons.
Cure Light Wounds
Uwais and Waya give matching howls as they both press the attack, Uwais' sling whirling fiercely and Waya's teeth snapping violently. Uwais again fires wide of the foe, but Waya has found her stride against them and bites savagely down on one.
Detressa moves forward to stand behind Mara, tightly clutching her spear. “These skeletons may have been animated using a combination of negative energy and alchemical processes,” she murmurs to the Inquisitor.
Initiative- round two
Archers- 25
Detressa- 16
Yang- 14
Uwais & Waya/Mara- 12 (U- miss/W- hit/trip)
Kua- 11
The front rank of skeletons pull broken scimitars and slash the rusty impelements at the wolf.
Skeletons vs. Waya:
While the back rank shoots more arrows at her from over their companions' shoulders.
Uwais' second bullet sails over the melée in his attempt to avoid hitting his beloved wolf or his companions. Waya latches onto her attacker's shinbone, dragging the undead beast to the floor.
[b]Round Two- Fight![/ooc]
Kua stops just short of the skeleton in front of him and slams his axe down into it's rib cage.
Move 30' to AX/44
Attack Skeleton in AX/45
Damage
Yang switches things up to conserve his force missiles. He sends a ray of disrupt undead at the archers.
attack
damage
Detressa moves forward to stand behind Mara, tightly clutching her spear. “These skeletons may have been animated using a combination of negative energy and alchemical processes,” she murmurs to the Inquisitor.
"Great. As if regular skeletons weren't bad enough, he had to go and make 'improvements' to them." Mara snarls in response to Detressa's observation.
Round Two:
Sister Mara calls upon the powers of her Goddess to fire another bolt of divine energy at the skeletons, and then draws her hanbo in preparation of moving into melee with the undead archers.
Detressa moves forward a few paces and holds aloft her holy symbol. “Return to the grave that once housed you!” she intones, calling on Pharasma’s power.
Skeleton Will saves:
Following Detressa's wave of positive energy, the front rank of skeletons- already wounded from Sister Mara and Yang- splinter and fall apart while the rear rank looks particularly beat up. Yang follows up with a ray of his own, shattering the skeleton in front of Kua .
After being pulled down by Waya, the remaining skeleton is destroyed by Kua and Sister Mara's combined assault, putting an end to the skeletal archers.
"Well that was fun," Sister Mara comments, grimacing in pain as she removes the arrow from her side and puts pressure on the wound. "But why did Tripe place them here? What were they guarding?" she asks, examining the area carefully.
After several long moments of searching, Sister Mara finds a catch in the right side alcove- a secret door swings open with creak leading into a five foot wide passageway. A chemical reek mixed with flat-out rot assails your nostrils as an impossibly bloated cadaver stumbles toward you. Its eyelids and nostrils are rimmed with a dried black powder, its lips sewn shut. It looks like its been pumped full of air, its pale skin stretched nearly to the point of tearing.
Zombie initiative:
Uwais' and Waya's noses wrinkle identically, assailed by the stink of death and chemicals. Uwais begins whirling his loaded sling.
Kua steps back (AW/47) to allow Sister Mara room to step back if she likes.
my initiative from the OC thread is 5
Initiative
Kua- 22 (step back)
Zombie- 19 (attack)
Uwais/Waya- 14
Sister Mara- 12
Detressa- 7
Yang- 5
The cadaver hobbles forward, flailing its limbs at Sister Mara.
Slam:
Waya whines painfully at the sight of another enemy, the wounds from the skeletons' scimitars standing out prominently on her flanks. Uwais gives a soothing sound and steps in front of her, sling whirling. His shot goes far wide and clatters into the darkness.
"It would be nice to use some other spells for once," Yang sighs, as he fires another ray of positive energy at the corpse.
disrupt undead
damage
The zombie's flailing fist connects solidly with Sister Mara's temple, causing the wounded inquisitor to crumble limply to the stone floor.
Detressa again calls on Pharasma’s power, trusting that it is not yet Mara’s time to go.
“Kua, try to pull Mara out of there!” she suggests urgently to the half orc.
Uwais' sling bullet ricochets off the narrow catacomb walls, bouncing further into the hidden tunnels.
Kua pulls Mara behind him as she falls to the floor, stepping forward to meet the zombie with his greataxe.
Greataxe:
The half-orc grunts in surprise as his axe fails to penetrate its blubbery, necrotic flesh. A familiar wave of healing energy emanates from Detressa, knitting the most serious of your wounds.
Yang sears the zombie with a well-placed ray of positive energy, leaving a blackened spot on its shoulder. It moans through stitched lips and swings club-like arms at Kua...
Round Two
Slam vs. Kua:
It drives the wind out of his lungs and would have certainly broken ribs were it not for his chain hauberk.
Zombie- 19 (attacked)
Uwais/Waya- 14
Sister Mara/Kua- 12
Detressa- 7
Yang- 5
Round 2 action:
Kua spits out a gob of blood at the cadaver, grits his teeth and puts his back into his next swing.
Round Two:
Returned to consciousness by the divine energies channeled by Detressa, Sister Mara stands and unleashes her own bolt of divine energy at the zombie. The wounded inquisitor then steps back beside the priestess to open the line of fire for her companions.
Round Two:
Returned to consciousness by the divine energies channeled by Detressa, Sister Mara stands and unleashes her own bolt of divine energy at the zombie. The wounded inquisitor then steps back beside the priestess to open the line of fire for her companions.
Yang fires another disruption ray at the walking corpse.
attack
damage
Sling whirling, Uwais fires at the creature. Waya stays back, still alternating between growling and licking her wounds.
When Kua's axe shears through the cadaver's flesh, there is a sudden release of pressure- it's stomach and back blow out in an explosion of dust! The gritty, acrid powder stings Kua's eyes and lungs. Reeling, he tries to recover from the sudden explosion.
The dust rimes Kua's nostrils and eyes, coating his throat. He coughs and rasps, wiping his eyes and trying to clear his airways.