DM Elanmorin's Hell' Rebels

Game Master Nathan Hartshorn

Startled but not cowed by Kurglunn's end, the Silver Ravens react quickly.
The Hound moves forward closing in on the opponent and blasting it with his firearm, the shot penetrating the creature's armor and somehow damaging the animated bones beneath.
Lirotha summons her magic and sends a razor sharp card hurling towards the skeleton's head and hitting it fair and square! Unfortunately the undead abomination doesn't seem any worse for wear from the magical attack!
Seeing how the thing in front of her could wreak havok on her new companions Oren courageously jumps forward aiming a fist at its torso, but failing to connect.

Moved Oren into contact with the skeleton and checked out the Hound's distance to see if his pistol was targetting touch AC or not. Please remember to move your characters on the map and I'd appreciate if you mentioned you moved nearer when it's relevant.

Round 2 - Bold may act

Valrani -13hp
Rocco

Pile of bones (blue)

Morricone

Big pile of bones -5hp

Lirotha
Talon
Oren

Badly wounded, but determined not to let up the assault against the unliving monstrosities, Valrani skirts the deadly skeleton that so easily dispatched the teams ghost.

She directs instead her attack against the lone skeleton archer that had so badly wounded her so far in the combat. In her wounded state, the druid finds it hard to put as much force into the blow as she might wish.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Valrani doesn't back down and her perseverance is repaid when she destroys yet another undead!

Round 2 - Bold may act

Valrani -13hp
Rocco

Pile of bones (blue)

Morricone

Big pile of bones -5hp

Lirotha
Talon
Oren

Moving behind Valrani Morricone stops his battle rhyme and starts to recite a prayer to the goddes of art and weaving the necessary gestures to heal Valrani. CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

I made a mistake. Kurglunn wasn't banished but is unconscious at -3hp, it will be banished if he reaches -13hp

Kurglunn stabilization check: 1d20 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 3 = 11

Round 2 - Bold may act

Valrani -13hp
Rocco

Pile of bones (blue)

Kurglunn -3hp, stable, unconscious
Morricone

Big pile of bones -5hp

Lirotha
Talon
Oren

What are you doing, Val? Quit being a hero and get over here so I can patch you up!" While Rocco waits for Valrani to come to her senses, he moves up beside the Hound and launches a sling bullet at the skeletal warrior.

Sling, into melee: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 4 = 4 Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

"Yesssss.... come to meeeee, fleshlings!!!" with the rasping sound of the skeleton voice echoing into their heads the Silver Ravens can do nothing but look as the undead monster raises his blade and slashes at Oren!

Power attack roll (vs Oren): 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 1 = 8 -> Damage roll: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Fortunately the creature's aim is less than perfect this time and it misses Oren by a wide margin!

Round 2 - Bold may act

Valrani -13hp
Rocco
Kurglunn -3hp, stable, unconscious
Morricone

Big pile of bones -5hp

Lirotha
Talon
Oren

As before, feel free to start round 3 once round 2 is over

Oren looses a left right combination at the undead

Inspired Mutagen attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Inspired Mutagen damage 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11

Inspired Mutagen attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
Inspired Mutagen damage 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11

Possible crit on first attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Inspired Mutagen damage 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8

With a loud crack Oren right hook connects with the skeleton's jaw sending splinters of bone flying in the air. The creature stumbles and takes a step back yet somehow it manages to stay on its feet as if sustained by sheer malevolence...

Round 2 - Bold may act

Valrani -13hp
Rocco
Kurglunn -3hp, stable, unconscious
Morricone

Big pile of bones -16hp

Lirotha
Talon
Oren

Did the archer skeleton that Valrani hit go down?

Did the archer skeleton that Valrani hit go down?

It was destroyed

Wanting to end this fight quickly, Liotha moves into melee with the monster. Summoning her Healing Hex she attempts to wound the creature further with positive energy!

Healing Hex Touch Attack!: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Positive Energy; DC14 for 1/2: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The Hound loads his pistol and moves quickly across the floor into a flanking position of the skeleton next to Val.

Next level if I get a feat I HAVE to get Rapid Reload, reloading as a standard action is the worst.

Lirotha slips past the others and touches the skeleton's armor sending a wave of healing energy through her fingers. The undead eyes flare with crimson fire then go empty as the bones collapse on themselves under the armor's weight!

As it started combat suddenly ends and the Ravens are left alone standing among the bones of their undead foes and many more...

What do you do? There's 2 different sets of stairs under the statues pedestal. The huge skeleton had breastplate, heavy steel shield, and a finely crafted longsword on itself. The other 2 just had longbows. Appraise to learn more

Moving to the unconcious form of Kurglunn Morricone sends waves of healing in him
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Everyone alright?" The Hound asks on his gravelly voice and looks around at his new teammates.

Moving quickly to soothe the Druid's wounds, Lirotha chuckles quickly.

"Good work my pretties! Let's gather anything useful and move on! Rocco? How is Kurglunn?"

Healing Hex(Valrani): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

@Marricone: As a suggestion, don't use healing spells if you can help it, until I've used my Healing Hex on somebody. It's basically a free once per day-per person thing.

Oren grabs the shiny long sword. "Even to my eyes, this looks quite valuable. Does anyone know how to use this properly?". She offers the weapon to the others. If no one accepts, she stows it in her belt.

Morricone shrugs and takes it for a moment."It is for sure a better quality of the iron that hangs on my side. I can use it, but I am not the best fighter. More a lover, you know."

"Not my style. But, Morricone there should use it." the Hound says as he walks up to the stairs and stands at the top of the stairs. Peering down into their depths.

"If we can't use it right away, lets leave it by the entrance to pick up later" says Valrani.

"And my thanks for the healing Lirotha. That was much needed I'm afeared to say."

Do you search the room? You've got 2 different sets of stairs, left and right. Both seem the same to you. Which one do you choose? Do you want to split the party?

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Lirotha wanders the bone piles, searching the mess for anything of note or value...or dangerous!

Rocco is our appraiser I think. Hopefully he'll post today? It's been a few days since he last posted.

First search the room, then choose one floor and keep all together.

Valrani, once mostly healed looks around the room, checking the piles of bones and, eventually, looking at the statue. She also scans the room for traces of magic.

detect magic
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Once the group was prepared, Oren decided to lead the party to the right set of stairs.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

OMG! Those perception rolls... XD. Rocco osted on Sunday, I'm positive he's tsill with us

Valrani, Oren and Lirotha don't notice anything out of the ordinary in the room aside from the veritable sea of bones filling it, of course. Valrani also casts detect magic but no item seems magical in nature.

Sorry for the inconsistent posting, folks! Parents were in town.

As the skeletal warrior collapses, Rocco rushes over to his phantasmal buddy. "Kurglunn! You alright, pal?" He nods to Morricone in thanks for helping and raises a hand as if to say, 'I've got this.' He lays a hand on Kurglunn's still oozing wound and allows a pulse of the spiritual energy that connects the two of them to flow into the wound and heal Kurglunn further.

CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

He then stands and turns to the others, Kurglunn now standing beside him. "Sorry, you guys were saying something about a sword of some sort?" He moves over and takes a look at the blade.

Appraise: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Taking 10 on perception for 15

The Hound holds his reloaded pistol and listens for any sounds by the stairs on the left.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Rocco considers the sword but aside from noting the quality of its craft he can't determine much more.

With Morricone's help the Hound is able to locate a small alcove behind the statue's basement holding no less than 100gp in old kintargan coins, possibly the payment to facilitate the soul's pasage to the afterlife. He doesn't however hear any noises coming from beneath the chamber.

Ok... left? right? both?

The Hound turns to the group "Left?"

Lirotha shrugs and gestures with a free hand, the other is now holding her Starknife.

"Just as good as any right now."

"Sounds good. Alright, Kurglunn, let's move." Rocco pulls a torch from his pack and strikes a spark from his flint and steel to light their way down the dark stairway.

Oren takes the lead, still feeling energized from her mutagen.

It lasts 20 minutes, DM. Just let me know when you decide it runs out.

Morricone takes a last look back before he follows the others.

And Valrani, staff in hand, also joins the merry band.

The Hound follows Oren making sure she's got immediate backup and keeps his eyes peeled for any threats. A grim silence falls over him, his pistol at the ready.

Lirotha will go last and follow up at the rear of the group. As everyone filters out/up the stairs, Lirotha will touch each person with a Harrow card and mutter a few things in Draconic.

Casting a Guidance cantrip on each person! Add +1 to ANY d20 roll within the next minute!

"May the Harrow guide our futures!"

As the Ravens climb down another dimly lit flight of stairs most of them notice some voices coming from the floor below. Only Morricone and Valrani don't hear anything, perhaps too distracted by their current circumstances. Kurglun, Rocco and Lirotha also notice something more though, the feeble lamentations of someone seemingly in pain.

You hear voices from the lower level. How do you want to approach this? Attempt a stealthy approach or rush down the stairs weapon drawn?

"Let us approach quietly. We may learn more that way. We can always rush in with weapons later on. If that is someone being tortured, the interrogator is unlikely to hear us...relying perhaps too much on their undead guardians."

Oren nods and tries a stealthy approach, not saying a word.

Stealth 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Lirotha nods at the other's suggestions.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Whispering, Lirotha presents a quick plan as she digs her last Thunderstone out of her sash!

"I think it be time for a distraction my pretties! Rocco! Kurglunn! Doya' think Kurglunn can sneak into the room beyond and get whomever's in there looking at the other side of the room? Pretend he's an evil spirit or somethin'? Then once they are reactin' to HIM we charge in quickly, I'll toss this stone at any likely casters, and our muscles immediately move to take out any guards? Sound viable?"

Lirotha is obviously smiling behind her mask at the idea of a good surprise for the possible Asmodian worshipers and flunkies.

"That sounds like a great plan. Does anyone know what the priestess looks like? If it is her, I could...try and get some help for us." she says, a little awkwardly.

Morricone listens to the plan and smilingly nods. "The more help.. the merrier!"Drawing his new iron he prepares for the dance.

The Hound nods quietly at Lirotha's plan and holds his firearm at the ready.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

The Ravens creep down th stairs making sure to make as little sound as possible but one of the guards apparently notices the noise anyway:"Hey! Did you hear that? Something moving up there! Are we really sure those skeletons lady Tanessen summoned are under control?" he says stopping to play cards and taking out his crossbow before moving towards the stairs. After a moment he shouts:"Hot damn! Who in the 9 hells are YOU???"

Round 1 - Bold may act

Talon
Morricone
Valrani
Oren

Dottari (fuchsia)
Dottari (black)

Rocco
Lirotha
Kurglunn

CCG thug (red)
CCG thug (yellow)
CCG thug (blue)
CCG thug (green)

In order to make things run faster I'm considering using the highest initiative check for all the different bad guys involved in an encounter so they act at the same time and you do the same, recucing the wait time. Opinions on this?

The Hound quickly closed within 20ft of the guard with the crossbow and takes a shot at him.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 (Touch AC within 20ft)

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Well we can try out that form of initiative and see how it goes. If it doesn't really work then we can always go back to the normal way.

Morricone starts his inspire courage performance, quoting a passage from The Six Trials of Lazarod. Everyone feels their spirits lifted.Inspire Courage +1

Seems like a reasonable method, GM. As Hound said, we'll give it a whirl and see how it goes.
By the way, sorry again for slow posting recently. Definitely dropped the ball on attempting the stealthy approach here. I hope it doesn't set us back.