"Well, I vote that we try this door on the western wall. I'll open it." Johann stands at the ready at the door, keeping his shield at the ready as he opens the door.
Johann slides the secret door open and takes a few steps into the room beyond, followed closely by Zora and the Maiden.
Shabby, mold-covered tapestries hang from ceiling hooks, cloaking one wall of this chamber in faded forest hunting scenes. While probably of decent quality when new, they look sad now.
A plain wooden chair of massive construction stands centered before the tapestries, facing into the room. A large stone table stands against the eastern wall. Weapons and other items are neatly laid out on the table, as if displayed for sale in a shop.
More interesting of course, is the skeleton seated upon the massive chair, flanked by another pair of skeletons.
A voice booms from the seated skeleton.
"You! Who are you, and why have you come here?"
Feel free to move your PCs into the room a few squares each if desired, as part of simply entering and conversing.
"We are explorers, seeking knowledge of various places and things. We apologize for intruding, but we had no idea that you were here. Who are you? And can we help you?"
Halfling | HP 24/24 | AC 17 F 15 T 13 | F +5 R +4 W +6 | Init +4 | Perception +4
From a position just outside the secret door, Sigil peers past his companions at the skeletons with big curious eyes.
"Undead?" He asks, startled by the sight. Then, in a softer voice meant for his friends. "The Dawnflower does not easily suffer such creatures... we should destroy them."
Conversing with the dead? Please watch over us, Iomedae...
Johann sheathes his sword and approaches the skeleton bowing slightly in deference to the apparent undead chieftain, or leader, or whatever it is.
"Indeed we are armed, but we do not travel with a wizard. However, we do have one among us that is somewhat familiar with the arcane arts, our faithful bard!" Johann gestures with his free hand to Feighllaro.
"I must be upfront with you, as a Paladin, dealing such with un-dead is not a circumstance I expected to find myself in. While we are willing to deal with you cordially for the time being, I will not be part of doing anything remotely evil or wicked for your benefit."
Not threatening, just stating a fact.
While Johann talks, he tries to get a read on the attitudes of these skeletons.
I actually pre-rolled some Sense Motives for the entire party earlier, with the intent to reveal the results after a little dialogue was exchanged.
Johann and Sigil:
You find it strange that the skeleton does not seem to be moving at all while talking, not that skeletons require functional vocal cords, but even still you'd expect the jaw to move or the hands to make gestures as one would in life.
The skeleton's voice seems to ponder Johann's words.
"Mmhhmmm... a paladin? And no wizard, but a bard?"
The last word, bard almost seems derisive, as if Feighllaro was "2nd edition" or something.
"Then you are no match for my power without a true wizard among you, and of little use to me or my plans beyond the fuel your corpses will provide for my undead army!"
2nd Ed bards were literally a Jack-of-all trades class. They had some spells, some skills and some martial ability. The good news is that they leveled up quickly (3rd Ed was the first edition to have the same level up XP for each level.) The bad news was you were kind of bland.
3rd Ed bards didn't have enough actions to do everything, a problem that was fixed in 3.5. And then you threw in the splat books and yeesh, Bards got good. Reeeeeal good.
Holy energy ripples form from Sigil while Zora fires her sling at a dangerous looking floor tile. The Maiden completes the as-of-yet unpracticed routine by kicking at the large curtain at the back of the room.
With no other riper target, the skeletons descend upon the Maiden as the seated one leaps up and joins the fray. Silently, they claw at her as he ducks and dodges and weaves her way through a half-dozen claws.
Just as she considers her luck, mystic syllables echo through the room as a spectral sword shimmers into existence ('w' on the map) and slashes a vicious wound into her shoulder (6 damage)
Round 2
26 Zora : Slings at the floor
20 Sigil : Channels
18 Maiden : Leaps ahead
16 Skeletons (-3, -1, -1): Miss x6
16 Spiritual Weapon : Hits Maiden for 6
14 Feighllaro :
10 Johann :
Charis lets instinct take over as she carefully dances and weaves through the skeleton's swipes and bites. She giggles as she can predict their follow ups and attacks. It almost feels like she's reading a book, knowing where the next hit will approach-
"Hisss! What is- a sword?" Not expecting a blade of pure energy to materialize, it quickly cuts her shoulder. "Hmpf." She assumes a snake stance and decides to wail on the Boss Skeleton.
"Never reason with the undead..." Johann mutters under his breath as he steps forward, drawing his sword. He strikes at the skeleton, hoping to rend it's bones apart.
Johann and the Maiden shatter two skeletons while the remaining one savagely tears into the Maiden in concert with the spectral weapon (17 total, which I believe drops the Maiden).
As Zora crests the curtain, she observes a fourth bony skeleton wearing robes - seemingly the true source of the voice, guiding the spectral weapon.
He turns to the halfing and growls, invoking a divine spell to stop her fast (Hold Person on Zora, DC15 Will).
Round 2 Con't
14 Feighllaro : Continues inspire, moves in
10 Johann : Hits for 13 (8), destroying #2
Round 3
26 Zora : Moves to curtain
20 Sigil : Channels for 1
18 Maiden : Headbutts for 5, destroying #1
16 Skeleton #3 (-2) : Claws Maiden for 10
16 Gorloth : Hold person on Zora DC 15
16 Spiritual Weapon : Strikes Maiden for 7
14 Feighllaro :
10 Johann :
Johann gasps as Charis falls. "I'll smite you down for that, fiend!" Calling upon the powers of Iomedae, Johann fulfills his paladin calling to smite evil.
The damage bonus is double for the first successful attack against undead creatures.
"Pay full attention to the man behind the curtain!"
While that would normally be a good idea, Charis doesn't pay attention to the skeleton and the sword in front of her as they rend her apart.
Johann does in need smite down the third remaining skeleton (on this side of the curtain), while Feighllaro's administrations are sufficient to bring the party's archer back to consciousness.
You all observe as Zora stops and stands perfectly still.
I don't know if spiritual weapons threaten AoOs? If so, standing won't provoke... (and I'll check).
Indeed I provoke an AoO. According to d20pfsrd, Spiritual Weapon strikes as a spell, not a weapon strike. You can't cast a spell as part of an AoO, and you can't flank with the spirtual weapon, but it's an ongoing effect so I'm not sure how you would resolve that.
At any rate, The Maiden doesn't know any of that so she would stand up anyway to keep her AC up (or at least absorb the weapon's AoO).
With the last skeleton warrior destroyed, the Maiden stands only to be fiercly attacked by the spiritual weapon again (7 damage).
Zora seems to have stopped dead in her tracks (remember you can save again vs Hold Person every round).
Finally emerging from his hiding spot behind the curtain, you spot a skeletal figure in robes who points at Johann.
"Run!"
This is Command (not Cause Fear). DC14 Will or run away for 1 round.
Round 3 Con't
14 Feighllaro : CLW on Maiden for 3
10 Johann : Obliterates skeleton #3
Round 4
26 Zora : (held)
20 Sigil : CLW on Maiden
18 Maiden : Stands up (not rolling an AoO)
16 Gorloth : Command on Johann
16 Spiritual : Slashes the Maiden for 7
14 Feighllaro :
10 Johann :
"You're sorcerer's ways won't work on me!" Johann uses bold words in an attempt to hide his frustration that he is unable to smite any more evil for the rest of the day. Maybe this skeleton would've been a more worthy subject of smiting, he thinks to himself.
Nevertheless, the paladin steps forward and swings his sword at the magic-using skeleton.
He strikes at the Maiden again, re-opening recently healed injuries before stepping away.
Round 4 Con't
14 Feighllaro : Continues inspiring, wands Maiden for 7
10 Johann : Thwarts command and swings poorly
Round 5
26 Zora : Breaks hold, slings to no avail
20 Sigil : Fire bolt hits for 7!
18 Maiden : Punches the air
16 Gorloth (-7) : Strikes the Maiden for 4
14 Feighllaro :
10 Johann :
Three solid hits from Feighllaro, Zora and Maiden connect with the priest, but seem to have little effect (yep, DR. 3 damage total instead of 18 there).
The bone priest cackles in response to the ineffectiveness of the attacks.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-HA! Your weapons are worthless against my power!"
