GMG's PBP: Crypt of the Everflame (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Q: How many skeletons does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Eight. ... ... IT'S IN THE CONTRACT!

Skeleton unions seem the likely source of hit die limitations for necromancers. It has nothing to do with arcane or divine power - just due to strikes.

I had to look at the scenario (I own it but haven't looked at it at all). Now, I didn't look all that hard or detailed, but there is a skeleton attack here, so I don't know what is going on...

My first thought was that the GM put in the fight because they wanted to, and not because there was one here....

There is a skeleton fight here, however, I rolled iniative with the information I was given on the slide.

Restarting combat is enough, everything else was correct.

The skeleton with the purple shirt approaches Karlos and tries to hit him with its scimitar, but hits the slayer's breastplate.
purple vs. Karlos: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

Round 1
Skeleton purple
-----
Allure
Vivian
Grazyra
Tyrek
-----
Skeleton orange
Skeleton red
Skeleton yellow
Skeleton green
-----
Morthak
Karlos
Asgoro
-----
Skeleton blue

bold's turn

Grazyra will 5 foot step towards purple and swings with her bastard sword

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

crit confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Crit damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Moving to the side, Allure aims her Crossbow at YELLOW and pulls the trigger.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Tyrek lets out a strange hissing roar and charges towards ORANGE, his axe gleaming in the torch light and nearly shaving Morthak if the halfling had been but a few inches taller.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

purple and orange are out of combat

GM: In the initial description of the room the skeletons were scattered on the floor before animating. Does that mean they need to take a move action to stand and are prone until their turn comes around?

delaying Vivian for now

Three of the skeletons move up to you and attack, but you are able to evade the blows.
red vs. Karlos: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
yellow vs. Allure: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
green vs. Grazyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

Round 1
Skeleton purple
-----
Allure
Grazyra
Tyrek
-----
Skeleton red
Skeleton yellow
Skeleton green
-----
Vivian
Morthak
Karlos
Asgoro
-----
Skeleton blue

GM: In the initial description of the room the skeletons were scattered on the floor before animating. Does that mean they need to take a move action to stand and are prone until their turn comes around?

I guess that's a no?

Morthak ducks to the side next to Karlos. He jabs at the skeleton, trying to get it's attention and draw it's eyes away from Karlos.

Dagger Aid Another (Karlos) -4 fighting defensively: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 4 = 21

Karlos: You now have +4 to hit the skeleton (I have the helpful halfling trait).
GM: My AC is now 19 from fighting defensively.

While we're at it:

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

I assume this is enough to know that they are skeletons and have DR/bludgeoning?

"Blunt weapons will be the most effective against these abominations."

Morthak Bonerattle PFS wrote:

GM: In the initial description of the room the skeletons were scattered on the floor before animating. Does that mean they need to take a move action to stand and are prone until their turn comes around?

I guess that's a no?

Ups, It took me some time to finish the posting and I did no realize that there was a posting between opening the page and submitting my post. Sorry! Consider the skeletons rising during a surprise round.

I assume this is enough to know that they are skeletons and have DR/bludgeoning?

Yes!

Karlos grabs his morningstar and darts toward the closest skeleton. He brings it down in a vicious arc.

attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 4 = 241d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5sorry on phone...can't move token....can someone help a brother out? ty!

Karlos: you are actually already in melee range of Red, who is the one I aided you against. So your token doesn't need to move (though if the skeleton goes down from your attack you could).

ahh ok...can't move the map to see...in that case i can activate my studied target as a move action to get +1 to hit and damage

red is down

I don't think I can get into a position to attack with provoking an attack of opportunity... so I think I will delay my turn until after Grazyra or Tyrek. I could use a ranged weapon, but between my poor dex and penalty for melee, I don't think it would do much for my turn.

Vivian yelps as the skeletons encroach upon her, and she sets Tick tock down before stepping back and away.

Sweety, handle that... thing for me won't you?

Tick tock obliges his mistress and opens his jaw wide...

Bite (Bludgeon): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

But the little crocodile fails to get the bones between his snapping teeth.

While Morthak tries to get the skeleton's attention so Karlos can destroy the moving pile of bone in front of him. Vivian puts Tick Tock down and the small crocodile snaps at the skeleton in front of it, but misses.

The laziest skeleton begins to move towards the exit of the crypt and attempts to hurt Karlos with it's claws, but also fails.
blue vs. Karlos: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

Round 2
Allure
Grazyra
Tyrek
Asgoro
-----
Skeleton yellow
Skeleton green
-----
Vivian
Morthak
Karlos
-----
Skeleton blue

Grazyra will swing at green

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Allure takes a 5' step away from the skeleton in her face, and gets herself into a position to do more good than harm. She quickly reloads her weapon, and awaits an opening to shoot again....

Tyrek slides around the pillar to strike at Green, but his swing is curtailed by the pillar itself.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Asgoro steps over Tick-Tock, making an attack with his blade against the skeleton, grasping it with both hands.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

While Allure reloads her weapon, Grazyra, Tyrek and Asgoro attack the remaining skeletons. All attempts to get rid of the undead fail so two of the skeletons try to hurt Asgoro and Grazyra.
green vs. Grazyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
yellow vs. Asgoro: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Round 2
Allure
Grazyra
Tyrek
Asgoro
-----
Skeleton yellow
Skeleton green
-----
Vivian
Morthak
Karlos
-----
Skeleton blue

Karlos focuses his anger on the skeleton in front if him.(blue)

attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 251d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9studied target as well..hence the +1

I'm guessing Karlos has taken down Blue. If so:

Morthak steps out and behind the remaining skeleton in the front. He slashes his dagger at the heels of the skeleton, trying to get it to turn around and ignore its other enemies.

Aid another (Grazyra, vs. Green) -4 fighting defensively: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 4 = 22

Grazyra has +4 on her next attack against Green.

"Okay Grazyra. It's all yours."

Karlos dispatches anoher skeleton while Morthak helps Grazyra to take down the one in front of her. Tick Tock continues to bite at the skeleton in front of Asgoro and finally the undead drops down.
Bite vs. yellow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Round 3
Allure
Grazyra
Tyrek
Asgoro
-----
Skeleton green
-----
Vivian
Morthak
Karlos

Atk vs Green: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Grazyra lays the remaining skeleton to its final rest.
combat over

"Well, we handled that quite well, no? Grazyra, Tyrek, before we continue on, allow me to implant a trick in your minds to aid you in battle. False Flanker. It will allow you to potentially hit your enemies easier in combat."

"Thisss soundsss mosst helpful." Tyrek hisses, although he stiffens noticeably when Allure approaches to implant the trick in his mind.

"The dead are restored to their proper state," Morthak muses, as he cleans his dagger and returns it to its sheath.

Morthak examines the skeletons for any equipment that might be of use.

Perception Take 10: 10 + 8 = 18

"There seem to be two doors. Which one do people prefer?"

The skeletons are very old. Everything they once were carrying is rotten. They all carry a borken chain shirt and a broken scimitar.

perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

I can't tell where that sound is coming from...my ears are still ringing from that hit to my helmet...Karlos says as he shakes his head to clear his mind.

Thank you Allure, and as for which way I say go right, but if you all suggest differently I will follow"

she will make her way over to the west door, the characters right side

Vivian calls out to her gator.

Sweety, come back to momma.

She sweeps up the little gator in her arms and looks at the others.

Anybody hurt?

Asgoro nods. "One of them got a hit in, but it isn't much. Should be fine."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

"The sound's coming from the east: though whether that means we should avoid it or investigate is up for debate."

The gods don't like cowards...to the sound it is....Jarlos ssys as he strides cobfudently towards the eastern door.on phone atm...cant move

Test... having trouble posting. Seems okay now.

Morthak takes a moment to examine the door to the east for any traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
If I find any traps:
Disable Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

He nods at the others. "Looks good."

Morthak declares the door to the east as safe to open. Behind the door you find a large chamber containing a maze of pillars that obscure the far side of the room. Next to the door is a pile of empty saddlebags and three brooms. The wailing is much louder in this chamber and appears to be coming from the door to the south.

"Hm. Looks like the riders left these here. Wonder what the brooms were for?"

Morthak picks up a broom and looks at the brush to see if it looks like it has been recently used.

"Shall we explore the maze?"

Morthak proposes moving slowly through the maze to check for traps and secret passages. He can make a dedicated perception check every 5 feet, taking 10 for a total of 18. Or he can aid another if that is allowed, which will succeed on a roll of 2 or better. He would grant +4 to someone else's check when successful.

We can also go straight for the sound or explore the whole place.

"Yes, let us explore." Not know what weapon(s) would suit the situation better, Allure slings her crossbow across her back and draws her wand and club.

Vivian holds TickTock tightly and lets the others lead the way.

Karlos stands beside Morthak in case of trouble.Be wary...I will be right here to back you up...

"Bit of a strange design... why so many pillars? And why did our predecessors drop some of their gear here?"

"Letsss find the ssound." Tyrek opinions, uninterested in brooms and other mundane items. "It hurtsss my earsss."

Karlis looks for recent signs of travel through the area.

track: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Morthak scans the area carfully and spots several traps and three switches. The traps are not really dangerous, they are 10-feet-deep pit traps with pillows at the bottom.
all marked on the map

There's also a door at the southern end of the maze. It is locked. The wailing seems to be coming from behind this door.

"Nice work, Morthak. Although, these traps don't seem very effective. Why the pillows?"

"I guess we just have to pull all the switches, and the door will open?"