Releasing the magic from his scroll, Rhokar touches the body of the man he just killed. The man's bones split his dead skin and rise, creating an ally for Rhokar.
Even with Rhokar lying on the ground, Rikael can manage to hit nothing other than floorboards.
Sildur continues his accurate use of the short spear, drawing more blood from Rhokar.
Dru tries to bite at the newly raised skeleton, but is unable to get his teeth to contact bone.
Sturion attacks again, in hopes of driving the necromancer into the floorboards.
Rhokar starts to read the scroll in his hand and takes his eyes off of the battlefield around him as he mumbles the incantation. The rest of the combatants seize the opportunity to make an attack while Rhokar is distracted.
Sturion lands a solid blow with his hammer.
Agatha casts her hex. Rhokar resists the hex, what little good that may do him.
The scroll Rhokar was trying to read slips from his lifeless hands as he falls under the onslaught of our heroes.
If the skeleton is still undead on Rikael's turn, he draws his trusty chakram and lobs it at the thing, his song to Cayden Cailean still going strong.
The beast that was
Was no more
For Cayden ran it through
And the hoard he gave
To the beleaguered town,
And drank till he saw two!
...wonder how long it'll take 'im ta make it back. My gold is on ferever.
Sturion attempts to close enough on thr skeleton to attack it...
The lone skeleton slashes at Thorn. . Thorn's armor saves him from the skeleton's blade.
Sturion steps toward the skeleton and swings his hammer. The fine dwarven metal smashes into the animated bones and sends them to the ground in a pile.
As the battle comes to a close, Bandits7 and 10 succumb to their injuries.
Thorn breathes out a sigh of relief as Sturion sends the skeleton to dust.
"My thanks Sturion and a mighty blow it was."
Ignoring the bandits, Thorn gets to work searching the room and checking for more enemies.
Rikael releases his rage and slumps against the table.
A mighty blow, my friend. Such foul magic at play here... I hope Izoze isn't around so we have a chance to rest.
He looks around the room, noticing Urga for the first time.
Urga! Agatha, quickly, Urga is down!
He rushes to Urga's side, but has no idea how to help his companion.
Lowering his spear, Sildur joins Rikael at Urga's side, "Hold him still Rikael."
Kneeling he beseeches the powers to restore this proud warrior.
Glancing at the back door, he looks at Thorn, "The one who fled was injured, he could not be moving too fast. We should track him down before he can reach help. It does not seem Izoze is here."
He looks at the others, "Secure the lodge, this should not take long."
I'm good fer securin'.
Sturion heads to guard the front door.
Oh...an' bring Tom, if ye would. I don' fancy him bein' out there with bandits aboot. He might eat one, an' develop a taste fer 'em...'sides...looking over at Rikael...some o' us could use a drink.
After the warm glow of the druids magic awakens Urga, he slowly rises to his feet. "Thank you Sturion. The foul witches appear to be in league with both fey and necromancers. They will pay for this travesty. Yes, let us secure the lodge."
Urga will cast a another CLW on himself.
Rikael nods at Sturion.
Aye, a drink, and then we need to search this place out. There may be more threats, and the Lady Argentea as well. We should rest a moment, and then go as a group, I think.
He winces as he moves the wrong way, and the gash in his side twists.
I'll say this, those men fought like no common bandits I've ever seen. They had actual skill....
Sildur frowns, "The further that man gets the harder it will be to catch him."
The druid moves to Dru's side, checking the bear's wounds, "In my experience such bandits are often former soldiers and the like, at least the successful ones. These drove out the Sentinels, we shouldn't be too surprised they wreaked such havoc. Urga, could you spare some of your talent for Dru? My friend took a beating to near rival your own."
Dru groans softly, drooling a small measure of saliva mixed with blood. He nudges at the corpses absently...
Thorn by now has moved out with his bow ready and seeks out the fleeing man at Sildur's insistance.
Leaving Dru to Urga, Sildur slips out the west door in Thorn's wake. Drawing his sling as he goes and attempting to spot their prey.
Sildur nods to Thorn, "Excellent shot. Help me drag him back to the lodge."
A short time later, Sildur returns to the lodge, depositing the man on the floor by the door, "This one will spread no tales of our battle."
He looks around, "We should sweep the lodge, who knows what else might be within? And with luck the Lady Argentea is held here."
Seeing his shot hit, Thorn nods to Sildur as he helps the man drag back their prisoner, finding the bear skin rug strange, he throws it aside.
Urga walks to the bear and scratches it behind the ear."You have the heart of a warrior. Let me see if I can help with those wounds."
Urga then focuses his inner energy to heal Dru.
Dru grunts appreciatively and licks at the half-orc's hand.
Rikael nods at Urga's words, and pays Dru on the head as he shuffles toward Thron, ready to back him up if he needs it. The wound on his side is clearly causing him great pain, but his friends needed the magic more, so he said nothing.
Sturion will go in first, as we hit the rooms.
As Thorn casts aside the bearskin rug on the floor, he sees what appears to be a door set into the floor. It is secured with a padlock.
From the general bandits (10 total):
10x Padded Armor
10x buckler
10x shortsword
10x shortbow
100 arrows
80gp 50sp
From the bandit lieutenant (bandit(5)):
leather armor
buckler
scimitar (appraise DC12 to identify as masterwork quality)
shortbow with 20 arrows
20 gp, 8 sp
From the 3 frost skeletons:
3x scimitar
From Rhokar
1 vial of oil - DC13 alchemy or similar skill to identify as greenblood oil
2 other oil vials - DC15 alchemy or similar skill to identify as oil of taggit
studded leather armor (appraise DC12 to identify as masterwork quality)
dagger
light crossbow with 10 bolts
short sword (appraise DC12 to identify as masterwork quality)
cloak - identifies as magic (faint abjuration) to Agatha
thieves’ tools (appraise DC12 to identify as masterwork quality)
ring of keys with 3 keys,
spellbook (contains alarm, chill touch,expeditious retreat, feather fall, identify, locate object, and ray of enfeeblement)
wooden holy symbol - DC10 religion check to identify as unholy symbol of Norgorber
15 gp
From the room in general
- large bearskin rug ( could be used as cold weather gear, tent floor, blanket) - appraise 12 to identify as being worth 10gp
Sildur picks up the finest of the 4 recovered scimitars, testing it's weight, "Now here's a properly elegant weapon.", retrieving it's scabbard he buckles the sword to his waist.
Noting the key ring he gestures to the locked trapdoor, "At least we'll not have to force it. Though I think it should wait till last. We should secure the upper levels first."
Taking his new weapon in hand he moves to follow the others checking the side rooms.
Dru sniffs warily at the bearskin rug, unnerved by the smell of all it used to be.
The druid kneels down beside him, patting the bear on the back, "Easy Dru, I know your unease. Your once noble cousin may yet serve us though."
Folding the rug carefully, he sets it aside to be retrieved later.
Urga nods at Sildur, "Yes, let's explore the upper house and save the basement for last. Let's move quickly before they can get organized up stairs."
Urga starts moving up the stairs.
Sturion will gladly accompany Urga up the stairs.
Seeing Sildur pick up the scimitar with a pleased face, Thorn does not begrude him as his preference put him farther away from his enemy.
He begins to examine the items in order of his interest.
Curious about the trapdoor though, Thorn tries the keys to see if any fits.
You guys clear up top, I'll back Thorn up here. There might be something less than pleasant down there.
Rikael draws his rapier, and moves to a position adjacent to Thorn.
The heavy cloak is crafted from shaggy white fur. You can't pick anything in specific about the magical abilities of the cloak.
An L-shaped table with many chairs takes up most of the floor space in this loft. A second smaller table sits near the entrance, and several windows look over the snowy grounds of the lodge. In the southwest corner, a large map hangs on the wall, opposite another door in the northeast wall. There is another door to a small room or closet to the northeast.
One of the keys on Rhokar's ring fits in the lock.
I moved myself to stand in front of the room I'll check first. Preparing to then move on the one to the left of it with the two entrances next.
With Dru beside him, Sildur begins checking the lower rooms.
Thorn opens the door.
A bed and chest sit across from one another in this small room. Two doors serve as exits, and a window looks out on the north side of the lodge.
A wooden ladder leads down into the lower level. The light from above lets you see a half-dozen or so boxes and barrels around the edges of the basement. There is a basically humanoid creature sitting on a rough blanket or rug in the southeast corner of the room.
"Umm Hello?" Thorn voices out in preparation to slam the trap door back down if it proves hostile.
Taking a look out the window to make sure there is nothing going on outside, he pokes his head through the other door, if nothing strikes him as immediately important, Sildur strips the bed and flips the mattress, looking for anything of interest.
Once done he checks the chest, if it proves locked he pokes his head into the main room, "Thorn, I think I have use for another of those keys."
Sildur ransacks the room and finds little more than some personal effects. There are a a few pieces of women's clothing, some obviously cheap jewelry, and a complete set of bed linens. The chest is wooden and locked with a padlock.
A woman's voice responds to Thorn's question, "Hello? Did you think I'd be going anywhere?" says the voice with a sharp tone. The woman continues, "I don't know what all that noise was, but a hot lunch and some clean water would be nice."