DM Kaavek’s Scales of War (Inactive)

Game Master Kaavek

Zalindra knows that it might get her killed, but she has to try and save the kid.

She steps into the room to allow the melee types to get past her and then pulls out a blunt arrow and shoots at the red skeleton, hoping to distract them from the boy.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (2) = 7 (bludgeoning, sneak)

"You keep hold of me Axe for now!" Rhona says as she leaps in after Zalindra. She has her shield up and hits the first Skeleton she sees with her fist.

Cestus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Confirm
Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

warhammer + charge: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Morgrym does his best to keep up with Rhona, charging in with warhammer to attack the skeleton on the other side of the boy.

The changeling makes her way into the room, darting around the corner past Aelion.

With her whip still in hand, Cecilia advances into the room. "Don't let them escape!" The bard calls out, which was a rather unnecessary command considering their situation.

Move Action: Move 30 Feet

Aelion spotted the boy being dragged, and the world seemed to narrow focus. He, too, reached for the blunt arrows in one of his quivers.

Firing at the red skeleton.

MW longbow flurry 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
blunt arrow dmg 1: 1d8 ⇒ 2

MW longbow flurry 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
blunt arrow dmg 2: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Jathal reacted, noting with pleasure the immediate response of the others. Some things you had to do.

Blunt arrow + PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19
damage + PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Shooting whichever of the Skeletons is still standing.

COMBAT ROUND 1
Battle Map

Zalindra steps into the room and quickly looses an arrow, shattering the skull of the nearest skeleton. Either side of her, the dwarves rush forward. Rhona bursts open the ribs of another of the boy's skeletal guardians beneath her fists while Morgrim obliterates a third.

The boy remains locked firmly in the grasp of one final skeleton, but a deft shot from Aelion soon shatters its left arm and a second arrow from Jathal finishes the undead foe.

The boy drops to the floor and covers his head, while the skeletons of a dwarf and an elf emerge from behind the pillars in the long hallway leading north.

The Elf quickly draws back and looses an old rusty arrow at Zalindra, piercing her shoulder (3 damage). The dwarf has its heavy crossbow already loaded and quickly releases its bolt in the direction of his living kin. It whistles between Morgrym and Rhona, before embedding itself in the bones of some poor soul entombed in the walls behind them.

Sorry for the delay, the party is up for Round 1.

Active Effects:
The room is shrouded in darkness, save for where Cecilia's Dancing Lights provide normal light within 20 feet of each of them.

Jathal advances until she can see the Elf skeleton and launches another blunt arrow at it.

Bow + PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19
damage + PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Get the short one before he reloads!" She calls out.

Aelion obliged, moving into the room beside Jathal. Thinking Jathal would handle the elf skeleton, he targeted the shorter skeleton, firing neatly over Rhona's shoulder.

MW longbow + precise shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
blunt arrow dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Rhona will cross the room to get into striking distance with the Dwarven Skeleton.

ROund 2

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Zalindra moves over between another skeleton and the boy

Get behind me, little one.

Then she shoots the one in front of her with a blunt arrow.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

unfortunately missing.

Dayana narrows her eyes at the elven skeleton and brings up her longbow to take aim...

Longbow Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

But she misses.

I believe all the enemies are dead now (not undead, but dead-dead ^_^)?

Cecilia cracks her crimson whip as she strides into the room. But all the skeletons fall to the arrows and hammers of her companions, collapsing to the floor before she can launch a single attack. Devoid of any challenge, the bard settled for clapping her hands encouragingly.

"Well done everyone!" She calls out, kicking aside a half-broken ribcage. "The servants of Vecna would do well to fear us after such an impressive display of skill, I think."

Walking towards the small boy that Zalindra had been protecting, Cecilia kneeled down next to the former captive.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

It's okay, you're safe now." The bard said, speaking in a soothing tone of voice. "My friends and I are here to rescue you. Can you tell us your name? Are you hurt at all?" Cecilia remained close to the boy, but did not attempt to touch him. She also checked to see if his hands or feet were bound.

Morgrym, reacting slowly, pivots to race towards Rhona. With all the skeletons once more laid to rest he raises his shield, then peers intently into the darkness, with the cursed torch behind his back.
perception: darkvision 90 ft: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

""Ξέρετε ότι κοιτάζοντας το σκοτεινό κενό σαν αυτό θα σας κάνει να πάτε ανοιχτό τυφλό!" She says looking over his shoulder.

""Αν ψάχνετε για κάτι αν δεν με πειράζει" She adds curious, holding her hand up and speaking in common.
"Aelion you still got Hew?"

Did Aelion ever have Hew? Sorry, I can't recall. If he does, he'll pass it back to Rhona.

Yes before she investigated the door with Z

Morgrym stares into the dark hall. The pillars lining the walls all depict stern-faced warriors, with the phrase Honor the Heroic Guardians of Rivenroar repeated over and over. The dwarf gets the feeling that the hall opens up into some great chamber, although he cannot verify this from where he stands with eyes alone.

Staring up into the faces of Zalindra and Cecilia. Lifting bound hands to his face, he wipes away the grime of the last few days and composes himself.

"My name is Thurann, and no, I'm not hurt at all."
The boy's voice is steady as he tries his best to appear brave before the assembled group.

Carefully Morgrym sounds out words "I look tourists..." then gives up and lapses to dwarven "Έχω βαθιά μάτια - πιο βαθιά από τους περισσότερους νάνους. Έχουν υπάρξει αρκετές εκπλήξεις. Θα παρακολουθώ - τα μάτια μου θα πρέπει να βλέπουν αρκετά μακριά ώστε να μπορώ να ακούω προειδοποίηση πριν κάποιος άλλος βγει από το σκοτάδι σε μας."

Zalindra unties the hands of the boy and helps him stand up. She offers him her canteen.

Cecilia allows Zalindra to assist the boy, preferring not to expose herself to the grime covering his small body. The bard chooses to instead focus her attention on what she realises she must now tell the child.

"You've been very brave, Thurann." The bard said, her words soft and gentle. "Once you have had a few moments to rest, we will escort you out of this terrible place. There are a squad of soldiers waiting for you, they'll keep you safe on your way back to Brindol."

Cecilia paused there for a moment, taking a deep breath before she continued. She was not looking forward to this next part. Still, someone had to deliver the news.

"But there is something else you must know. We found your father, Kartenix. I am sorry to say that he... he has fallen. We retrieved his sword, and will make sure that he receives a proper burial. But that is all that can be done for him."

"I am sorry, Thurann."

If the other characters have issues with Cecilia dropping this bombshell on Thurann, then that is fine. The bard is just thinking of how difficult it would be to conceal the truth from him, considering we need to escort the boy past the place where his father died.

Thurann looks like he is about to protest, clenching his newly freed hands but as Cecilia delivers her final statement the boy shudders. The colour fades from his cheeks as the bravado leaves his stance.

Staggering back, Thurann falls to his knees and retches, his eyes welling with tears.

Rhona collects her ax, comes over to the child and places her cloak on the child. She looks up at the others with a softer look as she understood how he felt, she too lost her parents young. It never goes away.

With some difficulty, Rhona and the others help calm Thurann down.

Unfortunately, this raises a new problem, as the boy insists on coming with them to get revenge for his father.

"Take me with you, I can fight! I'll cut old Rivenroar's head clean off, just let me have my father's sword!"

Cecilia briefly entertained the idea of bringing the child along with them, but then shook her head. If he was a little older then maybe she could have justified it. But as things currently stood, it would just be endangering another life.

"Thurann, I commend you for your spirit. But we can't bring you with us." The bard tried to explain. "There could be any number of dangers waiting for us up ahead, and if you got hurt it would be entirely our fault."

Realising that the boy might need more convincing, it was then that Cecilia Hawthorne suddenly had an idea. Some might consider it overly dramatic, but that had never stopped the bard before.

"But perhaps there is something we can do for you." Cecilia said, kneeling down next to Thurann. "What if we were to act in your stead? Consider ourselves your humble servants on this day. If you command it, we shall swiftly seek out the people who did harm to your father, and make them pay for what they have done. We shall strike these villains down in your name. And as they die, we shall tell these cowards that it was Thurann who brought justice down upon them! That it was Thurann who commanded us to bring about their deaths! That it was your will that this deed be done!

Only slightly out of breath after such a fierce declaration, the bard looked the boy in the eyes. Awaiting his response. Had that all sounded too forced? Had she pushed the story too far?

Jathal searches her pockets, but can't find her sap, so she improvises and readies the hilt of her dagger while standing behind the boy.

Ready to knock him out if he gets too heroic. We can say he passed out from exhaustion or something.

Zalindra looks on with compassion, hoping that the young man will take Cecilia's bait and stay out of harm's way. If they knocked him out... well, she only knew what *she* would do if people knocked her out and took her home, and that course of action would likely get him killed.

Cecilia's silver tongue works magic on the boy, and he is eventually convinced of the benefits of letting the real fighters dole out vengence on his behalf.

Narrowly avoiding a nasty bruise on the back of the head, Thurann voluntarily backs down.

"I'll make it back on my own, you go on. Avenge my father."
He points down the wide hall lined with pillars. "That's where they were going to take me, that's where their boss is buried. Make sure he never gets up again!"

"We'll do that, Thurann." Cecilia said with conviction, drawing her rapier. "We'll put an end to these monsters and make sure they know it was you who sent us to do it. They'll regret this day. Mark my words."

Cecilia gives the boy a torch as he prepares to depart. When he does finally leave, she follows him without a word to the others. Keeping a fair distance, the bard tries to remain hidden while keeping Thurann's burning torch within her sight. She is more than a little worried that he will immediately turn around and attempt to follow them.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Despite her best efforts, she is fairly certain the boy hears the scuffing of her feet on the stone floor. After a few more rooms she decides that she has seen enough and returns to the others.

"I think he will be alright." Cecilia said, stepping back into the room with her rapier still in hand. "But we should not delay any further. Their leader is still ahead of us, and there is one last prisoner to rescue. Let us do Thurann proud."

She begins walking through the corridor with the pillars, casting another spell of Dancing Lights as she does so. There is a sense of purpose in the bard's movements now. A willingness to do whatever it takes to complete this quest.

This is all based on the assumption that Thurann is actually leaving. Also, just in case it wasn't obvious. There is a small part of Cecilia is enjoying this righteous vengeance thing.

At the mention of a boss being buried, Zalindra adjusts her pack so she can more easily reach her blunt arrows, worried that there is another undead creature involved. They might help if it was a another skeleton, but if it was something worse, like a vampire... well, she wasn't a coward, but that might be an appropriate time to run. She follows the bard, but very cautiously.

Rhona follows her trusty ax in hand as she slinks along with the other two.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20'

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22Trap+23,Stone Work+25

COMBAT ROUND 1
Battle Map

Cecilia, Zalindra, and Rhona advance to the next chamber. The bard's lights illuminate an immense chamber. Two thrones sit atop a raised tomb. One has a rotting but still fleshy corpse on it. Other piles of bone litter the ground.

As the light crosses the corpse's eyes, they shine like a cat's and then begin to glow red on their own.

"Intrudersssssssss" it lisps. Raising its hands, the dead littering the chamber also begin to rise.

The party is up for Round 1.

Active Effects:
The room is shrouded in darkness, save for where Cecilia's Dancing Lights provide normal light within 20 feet of each of them.

Drawing another blunt arrow Jathal takes a shot at the only Skeleton she can see. Orange.

bow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Her haste cause her to miss badly and she mutters something deeply unpleasant under her breath.

Zalindra, ready with a blunt arrow, steps into the room and shoots at the orange skeleton.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6 (Sneak Attack)

Cecilia doesn't hesitate for a moment. As soon as she sees the undead seated upon the throne, she charges. Rapier in hand, she stabs at the monster.

Attack Roll Vs Lord Rivenroar: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21
Damage Roll: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Imbuing her blade with magic, the bard drives her rapier into the corpse's chest. Ripping free the weapon, she locks eyes with her enemy.

"We come on behalf of Thurann. To avenge his father, Kartenix, and all the others that you have slain." Cecilia dramatically declares, her words echoing throughout the hall. "I am Cecilia of the Crimson Lash. And you shall fear my blade!"

Free Action: Move Dancing Lights to Centre of Room , Swift Action: Use Arcane Strike , Full-Round Action: Charge Lord Rivenroar (+2 to Attack Roll/-2 to AC).

Rhona scurries in and then takes up a defensive position to allow other faster allies in. As she waits she breaths slowly readying herself for combat.

Total Defense action AC is currently 22

Dayana weaves her way around her allies, readying her bow as she goes. Although getting the feeling that her unblunted arrows will do little against the skeletons, she also gets the feeling she has even less chance of hitting the other undead in the room with Celia providing cover.

Longbow vs. Skeleton (Green): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

... not that she even manages to hit the skeleton, though.

Morgrym follows Rhona, hammer in hand but - uncharacteristically - holding off for now. 'She knows what the plan is.'

Aelion rushed into the room, Cecilia's proclamation ringing in his ears. At a glance, he saw that she had taken on Lord Rivenroar - but she would be overwhelmed quickly if they didn't deal with the other skeletons.

"For Thurann and the holy dead!" he cried, firing a blunt arrow at the nearest of the other skeletons.

Move, attack red skeleton.

MW longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1 :P

COMBAT ROUND 1
Battle Map

Zalindra obliterates the orange stained bones of the first skeleton to rise, shattering them apart as quickly as they formed together. Meanwhile Aelion’s arrow punches through the red ribs of its boney ally.

The red skeleton raises a longbow and sends an arrow skittering across the stones at Aelion’s feet, while a moss-covered skeleton behind embeds an arrow in Rhona’s shield.

Another of the undead guards stalks around behind the throne to return a shot at Zalindra, but instead sending it whistling down the hall and slamming into the pillar beside Morgrym.

Upon the raised dais, Cecilia faces off against the ancient lord of Castle Rivenroar. The bard bravely pierces the undead noble’s chest, and as he moves forward in an attempt to grab at her, finds she has him neatly pinned to the throne behind him.

Active Effects:
The room is shrouded in darkness, save for where Cecilia's Dancing Lights provide normal light within 20 feet of each of them. Rivenroar is not technically pinned, he just happened to critically fail the lunge toward Cecilia.

Jathal moves into the room on her turn, targeting Blue.

Blunt arrow + PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24
damage + PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"How long has this hole been festering?" She mutters darkly.

Rhona then rushes forward Double Move leading with her Shield as she whirls her Waraxe ready to strike, in hopes to free her companion.

Zalindra moves forward, drawing another blunt arrow. She shoots at the blue skeleton.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Nimbly avoiding the rotting fingers of the undead abomination, Cecilia sidesteped and attempted to once again drive her rapier into the corpse.

Attack Roll Vs Lord Rivenroar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

But she misjudged the distance. The bard's weapon scratching the monster's skin, but failing to damage the flesh beneath it.

As she continued to struggle with her enemy, Cecilia noticed Rhona approaching, shield and waraxe in her hands. "You're just in time, Miss Copperhair!" The bard declared with a smile on her face, either unaware or uncaring for the danger she currently found herself in. "With your help we'll make swift work of this miserable wretch!"

Free Action: Take 5-Foot Step , Swift Action: Arcane Strike , Standard Action: Attack Lord Rivenroar with Rapier

Seeing the blue skeleton nearest Cecilia and Rhona dealt with, Aelion continued to fire at the red skeleton-

flurry 1 MW longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
dmg blunt arrow 1: 1d8 ⇒ 6

flurry 2 MW longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
dmg blunt arrow 2: 1d8 ⇒ 3

-but the blasted thing simply spun its own bow, knocking his blunt arrows out of the air.

Dayana's position on the map seems to have reverted from where I placed her. Weird. Must have had an internet hiccup that hadn't quite registered with the site. I put her back where she belongs.

Arms aching terribly, Dayana takes aim for Green.

Longbow Attack: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5

And doesn't even manage the draw the bowstring all the way back before grunting in pain and loosing.

Morgrym charges forward with Rhona, screaming warcrys, but quickly falls behind the faster dwarf. Determinedly he keeps screaming and running towards the foe.

COMBAT ROUND 3
Battle Map

Jathal’s arrow smashes the skeletal archer in blue, but her companions aren’t able to follow her lead and fail to land any more blows on the undead guardians of the decrepit Lord Rivenroar.

Fortunately for the would-be purifiers of the festering tomb, the undead who live there are no more successful at defending it, and the two sides remain locked in combat.

Active Effects:
The room is shrouded in darkness, save for where Cecilia's Dancing Lights provide normal light within 20 feet of each of them.