Hermia gives a start when Mister Devin snaps at her, but sets her mouth hard against any form of rebuke. He is correct, of course, she has no combat experience save the previous encounter, and this one. But then, she has never claimed to be an expert, either. In point of fact, she has only ever professed to wishing to assist the community here.
"Yes, Brother Abraxus, perhaps that is for the best," Hermia answers Gaeron's suggestion. "And yes, let us continue."
Hermia will move with the rest of the group, but avoid standing too closely to Mister Devin, so as not to upset him further.
As the party approaches the graveyard the sense of unease sharpens slightly but nothing so major as being fearful of the place enters your minds. Just the feel of death and time permeates the air that all graveyards seem to carry is heavy for some reason in this place of a past civilization.
This is what you see once you step past the grim looking statues.
Kynneth stops to examine the statues at the entrance of the graveyard. At the rebuke of Hermia by Devin, Kynneth nods his head and says, "I do not have any combat experience either. Well, I have read about battles, of course, but until yesterday I had never cast a spell against an enemy. It was quite...exhilarating! Perhaps I should put my mace to better use and follow Gaeron's example. I would not, however, wish to get into you way in times of combat Devin."
Perception checks please :)
Gaeron gives Devin a stern look at reprimanding their Priestess but lets it go as they enter the graveyard proper past the foreboding statues and he peers intently through the gloom in an attempt to see what he may.
Perception
Failing to see anything through the darkness, he instead gives a loud chuckle at Kynneth's words, glancing back at the man with a raised eyebrow and a grin. "Following my example sounds like a sound idea, but I suggest you do so minus my repetitive introductions to the ground." he laughs a little to lighten the mood but nonetheless grips his mace tightly in his fists as he keeps close to his companions.
Hermia has chosen to remain silent since entering the graveyard, but listens to the conversations taking place around her. She, too, studies the statues, and attempts to divine if they are of any political or historical significance.
Devin peers fruitlessly across the collection of headstones. He says "We must check the graves, see which ones have been opened." as much to the graves themselves as anyone else. He turns to his companions, and continues in a low, forceful tone, "Stick together. No one goes off by themselves."
Devin's and Kyn's sharp ears pick up the sound of booted feet tromping along the stone cobbled pathway that leads into the dark confines of the graveyard.
Devin stops suddenly, his eyes straining into the darkness ahead. He quickly slings his crossbow into position and loads a bolt. (Rapid Reload)
When Hermia observes Mister Devin loading a bolt, she assumes that something is wrong, and casts on him, granting him +1 to his an attack, saving throw, or skill check.
Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, Kynneth moves close to Hermia and readies his crossbow, making sure he has a clear shot at whatever is coming down the path.
Gaeron glances at his companions and is suddenly wary, holding his mace close and scanning the darkness of the road ahead. He whispers to the others. "Maybe we should get off the road, ambush whatever is ahead?"
As the group looks out into the darkness they can see the distinct bodies of another patrol of skeletons marching towards them. The undead seem to not have noticed any of the sounds of battle or even to have noticed your party. You can make out four distinct seperate bodies all equipred as the other dead being had been.
Gaeron narrows his eyes and then a smile breaks across his lips and he gestures to the brush on the sides of the road. "Take cover in the foiliage, I have a plan. The spell to summon Apsu's flame is still fresh in my mind, and if it works, it could severely weaken our undead opponents. Either way, they will burn, and then you can all leap out and we can dispose of them fully. Aye?" He looks around for opinions.
Hermia nods and begins moving towards the brush. She arrests herself after a moment. "I will not allow you to stray too far from me. My healing is limited," she assures Brother Abraxus softly, then complies with his suggestion.
Kynneth nods in agreeement to the plan, and mentally calls several spells to mind, just in case.
Devin also moves off the road, crouching behind one of the larger gravestones. He gestures to his companions, first making a fist and dragging it horizontally across his chest, then opening his hand wide and laying it flat, palm down toward them. Upon seeing the returning stares of uncomprehending, he rolls his eyes and curses under his breath. Returning his attention to the gang of bones ambling their way.
INT:
Devin:
Gaeron:
Hermia:
Kynneth:
SURPRISE ROUND: HERMIA, GAERON, DEVIN, KYNNETH
FIGHT!
Skeletons:
Hermia utters a prayer to the good Lord Erastil in Celestial, petitioning his Blessings, so that the group might have an advantage and destroy the foul undead who plague this town.
Gaeron cups his hands at his side, concentrating, murming a mantra to Apsu under his breath as the spell of flame forms in his hands, a steady and powerful heat that he holds in check between his palms, readying himself to unleash the gathered magical inferno once the skeletons come within range and his companions are safely in cover and out of the way of the cone of fire ready to pour forth from his hands.
EDIT: Ok...nevermind lolz I cannot hold Burning Hands so I guess Gaeron will just move for now into hiding :)
Devin crouches low behind the tombstone, blending into the shadows it casts.
Kynneth waits with the others off the main path. He readies his mace for the coming battle.
Round One
"Please be careful, Brother Abraxus," Hermia whispers to Gaeron, then clutching her holy symbol, speaks the words of a blessing from Erastil in Celestial and casts on Gaeron, giving him a +1 sacred bonus to attack, saving throw, or skill check for 1 round, or 1 minute until dispersed.
ok moved everyone behind tombstones let me know if i need to fix
Gaeron gives his companions a final nod and then bursts forth from cover to stand a few feet in front of the marching skeletons and cups his hands, murmuring again the mantra of Holy Apsu's fire and then snarling as he points his palms towards the vile undead "Burn!"
Casting: Burning Hands, 15 ft Cone, DC 14Reflex for Half
Damage:
Skeleton Reflex saves
1: fail= dead
2: saved for half damge= 2 dmg
3: saved for half damage=2 dmg
4: fail= dead
Two of the skelton seem to turn to ash as Gaeron lets loose a mighty gout of flame engulfing all of his targets but two skeletons raise their swords in challenge as they appear slightly singed from the flames their bones slightly charred looking.
Devin stands from behind the gravestone and fires at one of the remaining skeletons.
Attack:
Damage:
Stepping out from hiding, Kynneth makes sure his line of sight is clear and calls upon his magic to destroy the walking dead.
The ray of positive magic soars over the skeleton's head.
Hermia, seeing how effective Kynneth's magics have been in the past against the undeads, and reasoning that Brother Abraxus cannot take much more physical abuse, moves to B6 casts on Kynneth.
"Please, help them," Hermia pleads. "My magics are insufficient."
The skeletons raise their swords and move to attack one going for the sorceror shooting things at them the other at the one that had burned them all their singed bones emitting a horrible smell.
Skeleton 2 on Kyn
dmg
Skeleton 3 on Gaeron
dmg
Gaeron's AOO
crit confirm
dmg
cirt dmg
As one rushes past Gaeron, the warrior priest raises his mace and swings it in an upward angle totally obliterating the skeletons backbone, hips, shoulders everything. But as he feels the triumphant exhilaration his foe's undeath, a sword bites into his side. The second skeleton slowly extracts its blade, twisting it slightly causing Gaeron to grab at his side. Crimson blood seeping from the wound staining your robes.
INT: Hermia,Skeleton, Gaeron, Devin, Kynneth
So Gaeron your turn. you are at 0 health if you attack you go immediately to -1 and fall unconscious.
Gaeron bites back a curse, the strength slowl ebbing from his body and he glares at the Skeleton and weakly raises his mace once more. "Damn you...Back to the Grave!" he yells and swings the mace again.
Attack:
Damage:
As his mace turns the undead's skull to powder he slumps down onto his knees, holding the wound in his side. He then closes his eyes and then he falls over onto his side, mace still held in one hand.
Alright well that ends combat. What do you do?
Hermia rushes to Gaeron and uses her one and only first level spell slot to spontaneously cast healing damage.
"Brother Abraxus, you are very brave, but I have to question your wisdom," she says softly as he rouses. "Had you trusted Kynneth's magics, you would have spared yourself this misery."
Gaeron opens his eyes yet again, his wounds almost completely healed and he grins up at Hermia before the meaning of her words sink in and he sits up slowly, his head swimming. "Misery or no, I would rather it be me than one of you to take the blade." he said simply and stood back up, eyeing the tear in his robes with disgust and then he sighs a little resignedly. He touches the amulet about his neck.
He eyes the rest of the party. "I apologize," he says, looking back at Hermia and inclining his head. "I realize that charging in was not the best strategy. I will not be so pig-headed to say that it all worked out. Now, are we ready to move on? I can muster my spells for a while longer, but where do we stand in this venture?"
Kynneth moves towards the other sorcerer and holds out his hand to him. "Thank you for your intervention against that skeleton. I feel his attack would have caused me no small amount of discomfort. Is there anything I can do to lessen your pain? I owe you that much."
He then turns to Hermia and says, "Your magic is strong, my lady. Always trust to it, but as I am learning, sometimes a more direct approch might be needed. I hope you are alright."
"I've not much more... magics left," Hermia says softly. "If we intend to continue, I cannot be relied upon to keep you aloft if you insist on charging into enemies, Brother Abraxus."
Devin steps from behind the tombstone, onto the road. He scans the graveyard for any signs of other movement. "Are you all quite finished? Remember that we still have yet to actually find anything here, other than our bony friends." as he kicks at one of the piles of bones on the ground. "With this many guards, I assume at least some of the answers we seek are here. Keep your eyes open and let's get to searching around."
"Wait!" Hermia interjects, perhaps a bit more loudly than she had intended. "I for one am weary of being condescended to by you, Mister Devin," she says. "You may be an experienced warrior, and thus greater than we, but we are here together. You may believe that we stand here and dally, but I assure you that all conversation has been to a singular point, whether or not we are currently fit to continue. I will no longer tolerate being berated by you for having an alternate approach of engagement."
Devin looks at Hermia, raises one eyebrow, and states "This is not the time." He then continues his search around the graveyard for signs of the spellcaster or his undead minions.
Gaeron scowls after Devin and then crosses over to him and looks the grim ranger full in the face for a full few seconds, saying nothing his expression speaking for him before he says, loud enough for the man to understand him, "Imagine, Ser Cross, that you can only swing your sword or fire your crossbow only a limited number of times before you require rest, and thus must carefully evaluate each use of this skill, lest you lose track and not have the ability to defend yourself."
"Magic is that kind of weapon, Ser Cross. I can only summon fire, or Hermia her healing magic a set number of times. If we exceed that amount, we cannot do so again until we have rested. Now listen to the lady, and be respectful to what she has to say." He keeps staring at Devin flatly, his arms crossed over his broad chest.
Kynneth watches the exchange between the two men thoughtfully. He then heads out to look over the rest of the graveyard.
Devin returns Greron's stare with a heavy sigh. He replies with a cool detach tone, "This, is not.... the time. Someone out here is still trying... to kill us. We can discus it, later." And Devin returns to searching, leaving Gaeron to stand however he likes.
As the party gather itself up their words echo hollowly around the now silent grave-site. As the party looks they can see that path leads up to a large mausoleum set at the very center of the graveyard. Crumbling stone arches set at the entrance portray the scenes of a great battle waging across its surface ending with a scene of weeping courtiers around a fallen king.
No more skeleton guards seem to be in the area so the party is at a deciding point in their adventure. Go forward....or go back to the village?